Abstract

A COMPREHENSIVE DRUG REVIEW OF FENUGREEK FROM NIGHANTUS

*Dr. Hiral Patel and Prof. Dr. Ashwini Kumar Sharma

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Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) a short-living annual medicinal plant belonging to Leguminosae family, is used extensively in various parts of the world as herb, food, spice, and traditional medicine. In traditional medicine fenugreek has a long history of being considered a strong herb. This Indian herb sometimes called methi is sold as dried seeds or as fresh leaves. The plant's leaves and seeds have significant nutritional and therapeutic benefits. As fenugreek is rich in several phytochemicals, alkaloids, carbohydrates, steroidal saponins, amino acids and minerals are present in fenugreek, it can be used for Nutritional, Nutraceutical, Medicinal and Therapeutic purposes. The information available in the literature on the health benefits and pharmaceutical effects of Trigonella accounts for its known medicinal properties and adds new therapeutic effects in newer indications. Additionally, the medicinal properties of fenugreek such as anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, anti-lithogenic, antimicrobial and immunological properties. This comprehensive review presents a detailed survey of the literature on medicinal properties of Fenugreek. Synonyms and their interpretation, Vernacular names, Rasapanchaka and Karma of methi in various Nighantus (Dhanwantri Nighantu, Shodhal Nighantu, Madanpal Nighantu, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, and Raj Nighantu etc.) has been described. The present work aims to discuss Methi in various Nighantus as manuscripts.

Keywords: Fenugreek, Trigonella, methi, methika, nighantu.