• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.129-132
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• 2003

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effects of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum) are well established. Owing to the wide spread use of the seeds by healthy individuals and by diabetic patients we wanted to test whether the seeds can affect biological systems such as membrane transport function. In the present study fenugreek seed polyphenols were extracted and their effect on erythrocyte membrane-bound sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase $(Na^+/K^+-ATPase)$ activity was studied in vitro. Fenugreek seed polyphenols inhibited $Na^+/K^+-ATPase$ in erythrocyte membrane of diabetic and normal subjects. Maximum inhibition was observed at $100\;{\mu}l$ of extract containing 0.75 mM gallic acid equivalents. The uncoupling of membrane ATPases in vitro suggest that polyphenols from fenugreek seeds may possess a positive inotropic effect.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.466-474
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• 2013

Despite the reports on safety concerns regarding the relationship between aluminum salts and neurological and bone disease, many countries continue to use aluminum as phosphate binders among patients with renal failure. In search for a diet supplement that could reduce aluminum toxicity related to renal failure, we carried out this prospective animal study in which the fenugreek seeds were assessed for their effects on rats nephrotoxicity induced by aluminum chloride ($AlCl_3$). Oral $AlCl_3$ administration during 5 months (500 mg/kg bw i.g for one month then 1600 ppm via drinking water) led to plasma biochemical changes, an inhibition of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a decrease of total antioxidant status (TAS), and an induction of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the blood and brain, in addition to kidney atrophy and morphological alterations at the level of Bowman's capsule, the glomerulus and different sorts of tubules, reminiscent of some known kidney disease. The treatment with the whole fenugreek seed powder (FSP) (5% in the diet) during the last 2 months showed its effectiveness in restoring normal plasma values of urea, creatinine, ALP and glucose, as well as re-increasing the TAS, inhibiting LPO and alleviating histopathological changes in the injured kidneys. This study highlights the induced nephrotoxicicity, as well as the related toxicity in the brain and bone, by chronic oral ingestion of the aluminum salts. However, the maintenance of a diet supplemented with fenugreek seeds could offer protection for the kidney, bone and brain, at the same time.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2019

Trigonella foenum-graceum L. (fenugreek) is a phytoestrogen, a nonsteroidal organic chemical compound from plants which has similar mechanism of action to sex hormone estradiol-$17{\beta}$. This study aims to assess the effectivity of fenugreek seeds extract on collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and collagen type III alpha 1 (COL3A1) which are both decreased in aging skin and become worsen after menopause. This in vitro experimental study used old human dermal fibroblast from leftover tissue of blepharoplasty on a postmenopausal woman (old HDF). As a control of the fenugreek's ability to trigger collagen production, we used fibroblast from preputium (young HDF). Subsequent to fibroblast isolation and culture, toxicity test was conducted on both old and young HDF by measuring cell viability on fenugreek extract with the concentration of 5 mg/mL to $1.2{\mu}g/mL$ which will be tested on both HDF to examine COL1A1 and COL3A1 using ELISA, compared to no treatment and 5 nM estradiol. Old HDF showed a 4 times slower proliferation compared to young HDF (p<0.05). Toxicity test revealed fenugreek concentration of $0.5-2{\mu}g/mL$ was non-toxic to both old and young HDF. The most significant fenugreek concentration to increase COL1A1 and COL3A1 secretion was $2{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.05).

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.66-78
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• 2010

Acute (24 h) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanol extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum Leguminosae (L.) seeds were carried out. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0 and 3 g/kg while chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg per day of the extract. All morphological, biochemical, haematological and spermatogenic changes, in addition to mortality, body weight changes and any change in vital organs were recorded. Histopathological investigations were done on vital organs. Growth arrest in the treated animals was observed. The treated mice gained no significant weight during chronic treatment while there was a significant gain in body weight of the control group mice. Biochemical studies revealed a significant decrease in blood sugar levels of fenugreek treatment groups while haematological parameters remained comparable to the control. In the treatment, male group there was a significant decrease in weight of testes as compared to the control. There was a marginal weight gain in kidney weight of mice after chronic treatment as compared to the control. Fenugreek chronic treatment caused a highly significant spermatotoxic effects in male mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.492-498
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• 2015

Testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is normally observed in elderly men and is a clinical and biochemical syndrome, characterized by a decline in plasmic testosterone levels resulting in a significant decrease in quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a mixed extract of fenugreek seeds and Lespedeza cuneata (YHM) on TDS. Rats were divided into three groups: the negative control, YHM-40 (40 mg/kg), and YHM-80 (80 mg/kg) groups. After 4 weeks of YMH administration, an increase was observed in the plasmic testosterone levels, vastus lateralis muscular strength, forced swimming time, total sperm counts, and motile sperm counts in YHM-40 and YHM-80 groups compared to the negative control group. Moreover, sex hormone binding globulin, the epididymal fat pad, total plasmic cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased in the YHM-fed groups. However, prostate specific antigen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels did not differ among the groups. These results suggest that YHM may enhance testosterone levels in elderly men and alleviate TDS without common side effects.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1995

Pharmacognostic study was carried out on the seeds of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. (fenugreek) in order to establish its pharmacognostic characteristics. In view of its renewed interest as a dietary supplement among the local inhabitants afflicted with diabetes, its hypoglycaemic activity in normal as well as diabetic rats was also investigated. Oral glucose tolerance test showed that a suspension of the powdered trigonella seed inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels in normal rats that had been treated with an oral glucose load prior to the test. A reduction in the blood glucose levels was also observed when a suspension of the powdered seed was given by gastric intubation to the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. These findings suggested that trigonella seeds possessed some hypoglycaemic activities that might be useful to the diabetics.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of a mixture of fenugreek seeds and Lespedeza cuneata extracts on testosterone synthesis in TM3 cells that were oxidatively stressed with $H_2O_2$. In order to oxidatively stress TM3 cells, the cells were treated with $50{\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide for 4 hr in serum-free media. Yagwanmun-horopa mixture (YHM) showed neither cytotoxicity nor increment of cell proliferation in the oxidatively stressed TM3 cells in any concentration. When the cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide, testosterone levels decreased, but the testosterone level was returned to that of the control level in the presence of YHM. In order to find out the reasons for the increase of testosterone, the expression of the genes involved in the synthesis or disintegration of testosterone. On the other hand, the levels of $3{\beta}$-HSD4 and 17, 20-desmorase, which are involved in testosterone synthesis, were decreased through the use of hydrogen peroxide and were recovered through YHM treatment. Aromatase and $5{\alpha}$-reductase2, which convert testosterone to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone, respectively, were increased through the use of hydrogen peroxide, and were returned to control level through YHM treatment. These results suggest that YHM does not affect TM3 cell proliferation. However, YHM increases the expression of testosterone-synthesizing enzyme, which was decreased through oxidative stress, and decreases the expression of testosterone- converting enzyme, which was increased through oxidative stress. Therefore, it is reasonable that YHM has strong recovery activity on testosterone to normal level, even in the oxidatively stressed TM3 cells which mimics the andropause state.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.19.1-19.6
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• 2014

The most important reason mentioned for the early discontinuation of breast feeding and introduction of supplementary bottles is Perceived Insufficient Milk (PIM), which is relatively common in women. This is of public health concern because the use of breast milk substitutes increases the risk of morbidity and mortality among infants in developing countries and shortens birth intervals. Thus, a literary search in classical text for aetiopathogenesis, symptoms and treatment of PIM were appraised to implement in contemporary era. The classical Unani texts viz., Al Qanon fit Tib (Canon of Medicine), Al Hawi (Continens Liber), Zakheera Kharzam Shahi, Tarjuma Kamilus Sana, Tibbe Akbar, Akseer Azam, and Kitabul Kulliyat were reviewed. Further certain galactogogue herbs which are in use since antiquity such as fenugreek, cotton seeds, cumin, asparagus, black cumin etc were explored in different search engines on website for proven galactogogue activity. The causes of PIM are abnormal temperament of body or breast, anaemia, anxiety, depression, malnutrition etc. The principle treatment is treating the cause viz., the temperament is corrected by diet and drugs in abnormal temperament, elimination of humour is required in dominance of humour etc. The aforementioned drugs are proven scientifically for their galactogogue activity. The classical texts are having valuable information regarding PIM, which can be implemented in present era. Aforementioned Unani drugs are proven scientifically for with their galactogogue effect, however, clinical trials are scarce. Therefore, further randomized controlled clinical trials are recommended.