Nutraceutical activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum and Nigella sativa seeds in the management of diabetes-induced in albino rats.

Diabetes causes elevated blood sugar levels, and it has been categorized as one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. This work aimed to analyze and compare the nutraceutical and therapeutic efficacy of fenugreek seeds (FSs) (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and black cumin seeds (BCSs) (Nigella sativa) against streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in albino rats. FS and BCSs were evaluated for proximate analysis, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities. Male albino rats were used to evaluate the in vivo antidiabetic activities of these medicinal plants for 42 days. Blood samples were drawn at regular intervals of 1 week to analyze blood glucose, plasma insulin, and cholesterol levels and to determine the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR) index. At the end of the trial, pancreas tissue was also collected for histological examination. Results of the proximate analysis showed the significant presence of moisture, ash, fat, protein, and fiber. Antioxidant parameters like 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content were found to be significant. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in blood glucose level, serum cholesterol level, and insulin resistance in treatment groups T3-T5. Insulin and body weight results of treatment groups were significant (p < 0.05) compared to streptozotocin-intoxicated animals. Histological examination revealed the nutraceutical impact of selected herbal plants due to enhancing impact on the size and the number of ß-cells in the pancreas. Findings of current research work explore the antidiabetic capacity of selected nutraceutical and medicinal plants.

A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a patented fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract in Type 2 diabetics.

Background: Fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum) constitutes a traditionally acclaimed herbal remedy for many human ailments including diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and reproductive disorders. It is also used as an effective anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal agent. The seed of the plant is especially enriched in several bioactive molecules including polyphenols, saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids and has demonstrated potential to act as an antidiabetic phytotherapeutic. A novel patented formulation (Fenfuro®) was developed in our laboratory from the fenugreek seeds which contained >45% furostanolic saponins (HPLC). Objective: A placebo-controlled clinical compliance study was designed to assess the effects of complementing Fenfuro® on a randomized group of human volunteers on antidiabetic therapy (Metformin and sulphonylurea) in controlling the glycemic index along with simultaneous safety assessment. Study methodology and trial design: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 42 individuals (21 male and 21 female volunteers) in the treatment group (out of 57 enrolled) and 39 individuals (17 male and 22 female volunteers) in the placebo group (out of 47 enrolled), all on antidiabetic therapy with Metformin/Metformin with sulphonyl urea within the age group of 18-65 years were administered either 1,000 mg (500 mg × 2) (Fenfuro®) capsules or placebo over a period of 12 consecutive weeks. Fasting and postprandial glucose along with glycated hemoglobin were determined as primary outcomes to assess the antidiabetic potential of the formulation. Moreover, in order to evaluate the safety of the formulation, C-peptide and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels as well as immunohematological parameters were assessed between the treatment and placebo groups at the completion of the study. Results: After 12 weeks of administration, both fasting as well as postprandial serum glucose levels decreased by 38 and 44% respectively in the treatment group. Simultaneously, a significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin by about 34.7% was also noted. The formulation did not have any adverse effect on the study subjects as there was no significant change in C- peptide level and TSH level; liver, kidney, and cardiovascular function was also found to be normal as assessed by serum levels of key immunohematological parameters. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: This clinical compliance study re-instated and established the safety and efficacy of Fenfuro® as an effective phytotherapeutic to treat hyperglycemia.

Withania somnifera and Trigonella foenum-graecum as ingredients of testosterone-boosting supplements: Possible clinical implications.

This narrative review provides an overview of scientific studies on dietary supplements that may affect circulating testosterone (T) levels to explore which substances are scientifically proven to increase T concentration. We also review the scientific literature for their potential mechanisms and laboratory test changes triggered by their use. Based on the analysis of existing data on substances used to increase endogenous T levels, especially double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials, we selected 2 herbal extracts with the best documented positive effects on T levels, Withania somnifera root and root extracts/leaves and seed extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum. Although these substances have different postulated mechanisms of action, both significantly increase T levels in men. Withania somnifera may inhibit the effects of cortisol and prolactin on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and directly affect the hypothalamus. Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds contain the active substance diosgenin, which is a precursor for sex hormone synthesis in gonads.

Transcriptomic data reveals the dynamics of terpenoids biosynthetic pathway of fenugreek.

Medicinal plants are rich sources for treating various diseases due their bioactive secondary metabolites. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is one of the medicinal plants traditionally used in human nutrition and medicine which contains an active substance, called diosgenin, with anticancer properties. Biosynthesis of this important anticancer compound in fenugreek can be enhanced using eliciting agents which involves in manipulation of metabolite and biochemical pathways stimulating defense responses. Methyl jasmonate elicitor was used to increase diosgenin biosynthesis in fenugreek plants. However, the molecular mechanism and gene expression profiles underlying diosgening accumulation remain unexplored. In the current study we performed an extensive analysis of publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets to elucidate the biosynthesis and expression profile of fenugreek plants treated with methyl jasmonate. For this purpose, seven read datasets of methyl jasmonate treated plants were obtained that were covering several post-treatment time points (6-120 h). Transcriptomics analysis revealed upregulation of several key genes involved in diosgenein biosynthetic pathway including Squalene synthase (SQS) as the first committed step in diosgenin biosynthesis as well as Squalene Epoxidase (SEP) and Cycloartenol Synthase (CAS) upon methyl jasmonate application. Bioinformatics analysis, including gene ontology enrichment and pathway analysis, further supported the involvement of these genes in diosgenin biosynthesis. The bioinformatics analysis led to a comprehensive validation, with expression profiling across three different fenugreek populations treated with the same methyl jasmonate application. Initially, key genes like SQS, SEP, and CAS showed upregulation, followed by later upregulation of Δ24, suggesting dynamic pathway regulation. Real-time PCR confirmed consistent upregulation of SQS and SEP, peaking at 72 h. Additionally, candidate genes Δ24 and SMT1 highlighted roles in directing metabolic flux towards diosgenin biosynthesis. This integrated approach validates the bioinformatics findings and elucidates fenugreek's molecular response to methyl jasmonate elicitation, offering insights for enhancing diosgenin yield. The assembled transcripts and gene expression profiles are deposited in the Zenodo open repository at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8155183 .

"Salicylic acid enhances thermotolerance and antioxidant defense in Trigonella foenum graecum L. under heat stress".

Plants possess various defense mechanisms to cope with genotoxic and environmental challenges, with high temperatures posing a significant threat due to global warming. In this investigation, ten-day-old Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seedlings were cultivated in a controlled environment chamber with conditions set at 70-80% relative humidity, a day/night cycle of 25/18 °C, and a photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of 1000 µmol m-2 s-1. Other groups of seedlings were subjected to temperatures of 30, 35, or 40 °C. Our research aimed to investigate the relationship between temperature intensity, duration, growth responses, physiological and metabolic activities, and the stress alleviation by salicylic acid. The results demonstrated that high temperatures significantly reduced plant growth, membrane stability, while increasing proline and protein content, as well as electrolyte leakage in the leaves. The most pronounced results were observed when exposed to 40 °C for 24 h. Salicylic acid completely mitigated the negative impacts of high-temperature stress when it was applied at 40 °C for 24 h. We utilized two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to examine proteins across three groups: control plants, stressed plants, and plants subjected to salicylic acid treatment. Our results revealed that, among the proteins influenced by high-temperature stress, 12 displayed the most significant differences in regulation. These stress-responsive proteins played roles in signal transduction, stress defense, detoxification, amino acid metabolism, protein metabolism (including translation, processing, and degradation), photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy pathways. These proteins may hold practical implications for diverse biological activities. In conclusion, salicylic acid treatment enhanced thermotolerance in fenugreek plants, although further investigation is required at the genome level to elucidate the mechanism of salicylic acid action under heat stress.

Identification of cyclooxygenase-II inhibitory saponins from fenugreek wastes: Insights from liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics, molecular networking, and molecular docking.

INTRODUCTION: This research explores sustainable applications for waste generated from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), a plant with both nutritional and medicinal uses. The study specifically targets waste components as potential sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds. OBJECTIVES: The focus is to conduct detailed metabolic profiling of fenugreek waste, assess its anti-inflammatory properties by studying its cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory effect, and correlate this effect to the metabolite fingerprint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanolic extracts of fenugreek fruit pericarp and a combination of leaves and stems were subjected to untargeted metabolic profiling using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry integrated with online database searches and molecular networking as an effective dereplication strategy. The study also scrutinized the COX inhibitory capabilities of these extracts and saponin-rich fractions prepared therefrom. Molecular docking was employed to investigate the specific interactions between the identified saponins and COX enzymes. RESULTS: The analysis led to the annotation of 81 metabolites, among which saponins were predominant. The saponin-rich fraction of the fruit pericarp extract displayed the strongest COX-II inhibitory activity in the in vitro inhibition assay (IC50 value of 81.64 ± 3.98 µg/mL). The molecular docking study supported the selectivity of the identified saponins towards COX-II. The two major identified saponins, namely, proto-yamogenin 3-O-[deoxyhexosyl (1 → 2)] [hexosyl (1 → 4)] hexoside 26-O-hexoside and trigofenoside A, were predicted to have the highest affinity to the COX-II receptor site. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we focused on the identification of COX-II inhibitory saponins in fenugreek waste through an integrated approach. The findings offer valuable insights into potential anti-inflammatory and cancer chemoprotective applications of fenugreek waste.

A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Investigation to Evaluate the Efficacy of a Patented Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract "Fenfuro®" in Type 2 Diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) is an extensively researched phytotherapeutic for the management of Type 2 diabetes without any associated side effects. The major anti-diabetic bioactive constituents present in the plant are furostanolic saponins, which are more abundantly available in the seed of the plant. However, the bioavailability of these components depends on the method of extraction and hence formulation of the phytotherapeutic constitutes a critical step for its success. OBJECTIVE: The present study reports the efficacy of a novel, patented fenugreek seed extract, Fenfuro®, containing significant amount of furostanolic saponins, in an open-labelled, two-armed, single centric study on a group of 204 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus over a period of twelve consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Administration of Fenfuro® in the dosage of 500 mg twice daily along with metformin and/or sulfonylurea-based prescribed antidiabetic drug resulted in a reduction of post-prandial glucose by more than 33% along with significant reduction in fasting glucose, both of which were greater than what resulted for the patient group receiving only Metformin and/or Sulfonylurea therapy. Fenfuro® also resulted in reduction in mean baseline HOMA index from 4.27 to 3.765, indicating restoration of insulin sensitivity which was also supported by a significant decrease in serum insulin levels by >10% as well as slight reduction in the levels of C-peptide. However, in the case of the Metformin and/or Sulfonylurea group, insulin levels were found to increase by more than 14%, which clearly indicated that drug-induced suppression of glucose levels instead of restoration of glucose homeostasis. Administration of the formulation was also found to be free from any adverse side effects as there were no changes in hematological profile, liver function and renal function. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the promising potential of this novel phytotherapeutic, Fenfuro®, in long-term holistic management of type-2 diabetes.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

BACKGROUND: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. is a Leguminosae plant, and the stems, leaves, and seeds of this plant are rich in chemical components that are of high research value. The chloroplast (cp) genome of T. foenum-graecum has been reported, but the mitochondrial (mt) genome remains unexplored. RESULTS: In this study, we used second- and third-generation sequencing methods, which have the dual advantage of combining high accuracy and longer read length. The results showed that the mt genome of T. foenum-graecum was 345,604 bp in length and 45.28% in GC content. There were 59 genes, including: 33 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 21 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes and 1 pseudo gene. Among them, 11 genes contained introns. The mt genome codons of T. foenum-graecum had a significant A/T preference. A total of 202 dispersed repetitive sequences, 96 simple repetitive sequences (SSRs) and 19 tandem repetitive sequences were detected. Nucleotide diversity (Pi) analysis counted the variation in each gene, with atp6 being the most notable. Both synteny and phylogenetic analyses showed close genetic relationship among Trifolium pratense, Trifolium meduseum, Trifolium grandiflorum, Trifolium aureum, Medicago truncatula and T. foenum-graecum. Notably, in the phylogenetic tree, Medicago truncatula demonstrated the highest level of genetic relatedness to T. foenum-graecum, with a strong support value of 100%. The interspecies non-synonymous substitutions (Ka)/synonymous substitutions (Ks) results showed that 23 PCGs had Ka/Ks < 1, indicating that these genes would continue to evolve under purifying selection pressure. In addition, setting the similarity at 70%, 23 homologous sequences were found in the mt genome of T. foenum-graecum. CONCLUSIONS: This study explores the mt genome sequence information of T. foenum-graecum and complements our knowledge of the phylogenetic diversity of Leguminosae plants.

HPLC-DAD-MS Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, α-amylase Inhibition, Molecular Docking, and ADMET of Flavonoids from Fenugreek Seeds.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) has a great beneficial health effect; it has been used in traditional medicine by many cultures. Likewise, the α-amylase inhibitors are potential compounds in the development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes. The beneficial health effects of fenugreek lead us to explore the chemical composition of the seeds and their antioxidant and α-amylase inhibition activities. The flavonoid extraction from fenugreek seeds was achieved with methanol through a Soxhlet apparatus. Then, the flavonoid glycosides were characterized using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis. The antioxidant capacity of fenugreek seed was measured using DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and CUPRAC assays. Finally, the α-amylase inhibition activity was carried out using in vitro and in silico methods. The methanolic extract was found to contain high amounts of total phenolics (154.68 ± 1.50 µg GAE/mg E), flavonoids (37.69 ± 0.73 µg QE/mg E). The highest radical-scavenging ability was recorded for the methanolic extract against DPPH (IC50 = 556.6 ± 9.87 µg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 593.62 ± 9.35 µg/mL). The ME had the best reducing power according to the CUPRAC (A 0.5 = 451.90 ± 9.07 µg/mL). The results indicate that the methanolic extracts of fenugreek seed best α-amylase inhibition activities IC50 = 653.52 ± 3.24 µg/mL. Twenty-seven flavonoids were detected, and all studied flavonoids selected have good affinity and stabilize very well in the pocket of α-amylase. The interactions between the studied flavonoids with α-amylase were investigated. The flavonoids from fenugreek seed present a good inhibitory effect against α-amylase, which is beneficial for the prevention of diabetes and its complications.

Unlocking the anti-diabetic potential of Gymnema sylvestre, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and their combination thereof: An in-vivo evaluation.

The current study aimed to explore the anti-diabetic effect of aqueous extracts of Gymnema sylvestre, Trigonella foenum-graecum and mixture of both the plants in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. A total of 30 rabbits were grouped into six equal groups as: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic treated with 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) G. sylvestre, diabetic treated with 300 mg/kg bw T. foenum-graecum, diabetic treated with 300 mg/kg bw mixture of both the plants and diabetic treated with 500 mg/kg bw metformin for 4 weeks. Diabetes was induced to all the study group animals except normal control by intravenous administration of alloxan monohydrate (80 mg/kg bw). Blood glucose was measured by glucometer and other biochemical parameters were determined through various kit methods. Serum insulin was measured through ELISA kit method. Results showed that both the plants and metformin significantly (p < .05) decreased the fasting blood glucose. Hypoglycemic activity of aqueous extract of G. sylvestre and metformin was found slightly higher than aqueous extract of T. foenum-graecum and the mixture of both the plants. However, a significant (p < .05) rise in insulin secretion was observed in studied plants extract treated rabbits. Serum urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes were found reduced significantly (p < .05) in treated rabbits whereas packed cell volume was also returned to normal in treated animals as compared to control group. The study concluded that G. sylvestre and T. foenum-graecum extracts have comparable effects with metformin in normalizing the blood glucose level and have more pronounced effect than metformin in restoring the serum biochemical parameters to normal levels. Hence, these plants may be the good alternative medicine in managing the diabetes mellitus.

Determining the In Vivo Efficacy of Plant-Based and Probiotic-Based Antibiotic Alternatives against Mixed Infection with Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli in Domestic Chickens.

Restrictions on the use of antimicrobial compounds have led to a surge of interest in alternative solutions, such as natural, plant-based compounds. In our study, we investigated the efficacy of three feed supplements containing different additives, namely, probiotics (Lactobacillus spp., "Test substance A"), turmeric (Curcuma longa L., "Test substance B"), and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum, "Test substance C"). In the experiment, we tested 180 birds of the Bábolna Tetra-SL laying hybrid breed that were infected with Salmonella enteritidis strains. The birds were randomly divided into six groups: three groups treated with the different additives, a negative control group, a positive control group, and an antibiotic-treated group using enrofloxacin. We examined the maturation and the time course of shedding of Salmonella; at the end of rearing, pathological and histopathological examinations were performed. When Salmonella was isolated from the cloacal swab samples, the enrofloxacin-treated group had a high number of animals shedding Salmonella by day 9, which was like the group treated with test material C. The greatest reduction in Salmonella shedding was observed in the groups treated with test materials A and B. In terms of pathological parameters, villus length and crypt depth were significantly better in the group treated with test material C compared to the positive and negative controls, and when comparing the body weight of the tested animals, the group treated with test material B had a significantly larger absorption surface area compared to the positive control group. Overall, the supplement with test material C proved to be the most effective. In the future, it is worthwhile to investigate the combination of the tested active substances for their possible synergistic effects and to perform a dose-response study to select the optimal dosage.

Synergic effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum, Ribes rubrum, Lavandula angustifolia, and Arctium Lappa extracts mixture on learning and memory deficits in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of some known extracts on learning and memory impairment induced by streptozocin (STZ) in male rats. Materials and Methods: Eighty male rats were randomly divided: 1) control, 2) STZ (50 mg/kg), 3) STZ+Trigonella foenum-graecum (200 mg/kg), 4) STZ+Ribes rubrum (500 mg/kg), 5) STZ+Lavandula angustifolia (400 mg/kg), 6) STZ+Arctium Lappa (200 mg/kg), 7) STZ+mix of extracts (quarter dose of each extract), and 8) STZ+metformin (100 mg/kg). Treatment was continued for 8 weeks and the after that, the behavioral tests related to learning and memory including Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) were performed along with biochemical analysis associated with oxidative stress pathway and other related indicators. Results: According to the results, all extracts demonstrated potential effect to ameliorate cognitive impairment caused by STZ in both MWM and PA tests along with attenuating oxidative stress indicators like malondialdehyde (MDA), while total thiol content and anti-oxidant enzyme activity like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) remarkably increased in biochemical test results. Interestingly, the mixture of extracts illustrated much better results in ameliorating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), while attenuating the amyloid-B and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated these extracts alone or in combination with a minimum dose have a strong potential to ameliorate learning and memory impairment induced by STZ along with lowering glucose levels by which they prevent or manage diabetes. It is noteworthy that the results matched those of metformin a well-known anti-diabetic drug.

Neuroprotective effects of trigonelline in kainic acid-induced epilepsy: Behavioral, biochemical, and functional insights.

Trigonelline, an alkaloid found in the seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek), has been recognized for its potential in treating various diseases. Notably, trigonelline has demonstrated a neuroprotective impact by reducing intrasynaptosomal calcium levels, inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and regulating cytokines. Kainic acid, an agonist of kainic acid receptors, is utilized for inducing temporal lobe epilepsy and is a common choice for establishing kainic acid-induced status epilepticus, a widely used epileptic model. The neuroprotective effect of trigonelline in the context of kainic acid-induced epilepsy remains unexplored. This study aimed to induce epilepsy by administering kainic acid (10 mg/kg, single subcutaneous dose) and subsequently evaluate the potential anti-epileptic effect of trigonelline (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal administration for 14 days). Ethosuccimide (ETX) (187.5 mg/kg) served as the standard drug for comparison. The anti-epileptic effect of trigonelline over a 14-day administration period was examined. Behavioral assessments, such as the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) test, Open Field Test (OFT), and Plus Maze tests, were conducted 2 h after kainic acid administration to investigate spatial and non-spatial acquisition abilities in rats. Additionally, biochemical analysis encompassing intrasynaptosomal calcium levels, LDH activity, serotonin levels, oxidative indicators, and inflammatory cytokines associated with inflammation were evaluated. Trigonelline exhibited significant behavioral improvements by reducing anxiety in open field and plus maze tests, along with an amelioration of memory impairment. Notably, trigonelline substantially lowered intrasynaptosomal calcium levels and LDH activity, indicating its neuroprotective effect by mitigating cytotoxicity and neuronal injury within the hippocampus tissue. Moreover, trigonelline demonstrated a remarkable reduction in inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indicators. In summary, this study underscores the potential of trigonelline as an anti-epileptic agent in the context of kainic acid-induced epilepsy. The compound exhibited beneficial effects on behavior, neuroprotection, and inflammation, shedding light on its therapeutic promise for epilepsy management.

Identification of apposite antagonist for androgen receptor in prostate cancer: an in silico study of fenugreek compounds.

Benign Prostate Cancer (BPC), a prevalent condition predominantly affecting elderly males, manifests with voiding difficulties and urinary retention. A library of compounds from Trigonella foenum-graecum, commonly known as fenugreek was used in this study. We aimed to explore its potential anti-cancer effects by computationally assessing its inhibitory activity on the androgen receptor (AR). For in-silico drug assessment, we employed Maestro 12.8, part of the Schrödinger Suite, to identify the most promising candidates acting as androgen receptor antagonists in the treatment of BPC. Subsequently, 59 fenugreek compounds were retrieved from the PubChem database and subjected to molecular docking against the active site of the target protein, 1E3G. 100-nanosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to assess the stability and compactness of the AR-ligand complexes. Notably, the AR-kaempferol complex exhibited the least fluctuation within the AR active site throughout the simulation trajectory, followed by chlorogenic acid and the reference ligand, hydroxyflutamide. The MM/GBSA values revealed the compounds' maximum free binding energy (-103.3 ± 6, -87.4 ± 23, -68.5 ΔGbind) for chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, and hydroxyflutamide, respectively. These findings suggest their potential as promising leads for drug development. Further lead optimization and comprehensive studies on the top-ranked ligands identified in this investigation are warranted to advance their potential as therapeutic agents for BPC treatment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves on wound healing in type 1 diabetic rats.

Diabetes describes a group of metabolic disorders characterised by increased blood glucose concentration. People living with diabetes have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality than the general population. In 2015 it was estimated that there were 415 million (uncertainty interval: 340-536 million) people with diabetes aged 20-79 years, and 5.0 million deaths attributable to diabetes. When diabetic patients develop an ulcer, they become at high risk for major complications, including infection and amputation. The pathophysiologic relationship between diabetes and impaired healing is complex. Vascular, neuropathic, immune function, and biochemical abnormalities each contribute to the altered tissue repair. The use of herbal medicine has increased and attracted the attention of many researchers all over the world. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of 500mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves (TFG-E) on wound healing in diabetic rats using a full-thickness cutaneous incisional wound model. Wounds of treated animals showed better tensiometric indices, accelerated wound contraction, faster re-epithelialisation, improved neovascularisation, better modulation of fibroblasts and macrophage presence in the wound bed and moderate collagen formation.

Promoting cardioprotection with fenugreek: Insights from CoCl2-induced hypoxia in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of fenugreek on CoCl2-induced hypoxia in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Materials and Methods: Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats aged 0-2 days and incubated with various concentrations of fenugreek (10-320 µg/ml) and CoCl2-induced hypoxia for different durations (24, 48, and 72 hr). Cell viability, calcium signaling, beating rate, and gene expression were evaluated. Results: Fenugreek treatments did not cause any toxicity in cardiomyocytes. At a concentration of 160 µg/ml for 24 hr, fenugreek protected the heart against CoCl2-induced hypoxia, as evidenced by reduced expression of caspases (-3, -6, -8, and -9) and other functional genes markers, such as HIF-1α, Bcl-2, IP3R, ERK5, and GLP-1r. Calcium signaling and beating rate were also improved in fenugreek-treated cardiomyocytes. In contrast, CoCl2 treatment resulted in up-regulation of the hypoxia gene HIF-1α and apoptotic caspases gene (-3, -9, -8, -12), and down-regulation of Bcl-2 activity. Conclusion: Fenugreek treatment at a concentration of 160 µg/ml was not toxic to neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and protected against CoCl2-induced hypoxia. Furthermore, fenugreek improved calcium signaling and beating rate and altered gene expression. Fenugreek may be a potential therapeutic agent for promoting cardioprotection against hypoxia-induced injuries.

In Vitro Assessment of the Antidiabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris and Trigonella foenum-graecum Extracts Processed Using Membrane Technologies.

Recently, there has been increased interest in the discovery of new natural herbal remedies for treating diabetes and inflammatory diseases. In this context, this work analyzed the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris and Trigonella foenum-graecum herbs, which have been studied less from this point of view. Therefore, extracts were prepared and processed using membrane technologies, micro- and ultrafiltration, to concentrate the biologically active principles. The polyphenol and flavone contents in the extracts were analyzed. The qualitative analysis of the polyphenolic compounds was performed via HPLC, identifying chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid and rutin in A. absinthium; chlorogenic acid, luteolin and rutin in A. vulgaris; and genistin in T. foenum-graecum. The antidiabetic activity of the extracts was analyzed by testing their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and the anti-inflammatory activity was analyzed by testing their ability to inhibit hyaluronidase and lipoxygenase. Thus, the concentrated extracts of T. foenum-graecum showed high inhibitory activity on a-amylase-IC50 = 3.22 ± 0.3 µg/mL-(compared with acarbose-IC50 = 3.5 ± 0.18 µg/mL) and high inhibitory activity on LOX-IC50 = 19.69 ± 0.52 µg/mL (compared with all standards used). The concentrated extract of A. vulgaris showed increased α-amylase inhibition activity-IC50 = 8.57 ± 2.31 µg/mL-compared to acarbose IC50 = 3.5 ± 0.18 µg/mL. The concentrated extract of A. absinthium showed pronounced LOX inhibition activity-IC50 = 19.71 ± 0.79 µg/mL-compared to ibuprofen-IC50 = 20.19 ± 1.25 µg/mL.

α-Amylase purified and characterized from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) showed substantial anti-biofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC740.

Starch hydrolyzing α-amylase from germinated fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) has been purified 104-fold to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity with a final specific activity of 297.5 units/mg. SDS-PAGE of the final preparation revealed a single protein band of 47.5 kDa, supported by LC/MS analysis and size-exclusion chromatography on the Superdex 200 (ÄKTA-FPLC). α-Amylase exhibited maximum activity at pH 5.5. An activation energy (Ea) of 9.12 kcal/mol was found to exist in the temperature range of 20 to 90 °C. When substrate concentrations were evaluated between 0.5 and 10 mg/mL, the Km and Vmax values for starch were observed to be 1.12 mg/mL and 384.14 µmol/min/mg, respectively. The major substrate starch exhibited high specificity for fenugreek α-amylase. In the presence of EDTA (5 mM), the activity was lost, however, it could be largely reversed with the addition of calcium. Furthermore, an effort was made to assess the ability of fenugreek seed-derived partially purified (DEAE-cellulose enzyme) and purified α-amylase to disperse inside 48 h-old biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus MTCC740. The outcomes clearly demonstrated that the purified and partially purified α-amylase both exhibited strong biofilm dispersion activity.

Fenugreek bioactive compounds: A review of applications and extraction based on emerging technologies.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a pharmaceutically significant aromatic crop with health benefits linked to its phytochemicals. This article aims to overview progress in using emerging technologies to extract its bioactive compounds and extraction mechanisms. Also, the trends in the applications of this herb in the food industry and its therapeutical effects were explained. Fenugreek's flavor is the primary reason for its applications in the food industry. At the same time, it has antimicrobial, antibacterial, hepatoprotection, anticancer, lactation, and antidiabetic effects. Phytochemicals responsible for these effects include galactomannans, saponins, alkaloids, and polyphenols. Besides, data showed that emerging technologies boost fenugreek extracts' yield and biological activity. Among these, ultrasound (55.6%) is the most studied technology, followed by microwave (37.0%), cold plasma (3.7%), and combined approaches (3.7%). Processing conditions (e.g., treatment time and intensity) and solvent (type, ratio, and concentration) are significant parameters that affect the performance of these novel extraction technologies. Extracts obtained by sustainable energy-saving emerging technologies can be used to develop value-added health-promoting products.

Fenugreek's phytochemicals (e.g., galactomannans and polyphenols) have therapeutic effectsUltrasound and microwave are major emerging technologies for fenugreek's bioactive compound extractionEmerging technologies enhance the yield and biological activities of fenugreek extractsEmerging extraction technologies can develop fenugreek-based products with health benefits.

Simultaneous pharmacokinetic assessment of phytopharmaceuticals in fenugreek extract using LC-MS/MS in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Fenugreek seeds are used in numerous marketed herbal formulations with therapeutic benefits. Some of its bioactive components such as 4-hydroxyisoleucine, trigonelline, raffinose, and pinitol are reported to possess potential therapeutic activities, such as antibacterial, antidiabetic, stomach stimulant, and anti-invasive, against hyperandrogenism and other allied diseases, including polycystic ovary syndrome. A fully validated, selective, and sensitive bioanalytical method for the simultaneous rapid quantification of the aforementioned bioactive components has been developed using hyphenated liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The analytes were separated within 5 min using gradient elution in a C18 column at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Plasma protein precipitation technique was employed to isolate the analytes from the samples. Oral pharmacokinetic profile of the four bioactive components in Sprague-Dawley rats was further evaluated using noncompartmental analysis using Phoenix WinNonlin software.