Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant that belongs to the Leguminosae or legume family of plants. The plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine and for this purpose both the leaves and the seeds are used. One of the major uses of fenugreek seed extracts include the treatment of type 2 diabetes and as constituents within the seeds may have significant hypoglycaemic effects. The ability of fenugreek seeds to lower blood glucose levels may explain the lipid lowering effects seed following consumption of the seeds, as insulin resistance is a cause of both elevated blood glucose and elevated blood lipid levels. This suggests that fenugreek is a useful treatment for the metabolic syndrome. Fenugreek seeds contain a number of active constituents that include flavonoids, coumarins (cinnamic acid and scopoletin) and saponins. The most abundant alkaloid is trigonelline. These constituents or others not yet identified could be responsible for the beneficial effects of the plant.
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