Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a plant that has a traditional use in medicine. Some of the most researched medicinal effects of the fenugreek plant include the ability to reduce blood lipids and reduce blood glucose levels, as well as a general anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Experimental evidence also shows that fenugreek may have antimicrobial effects. The plant is rich in phytochemicals including flavonoids, steroidal saponins and alkaloids which may contribute to the health effects of the plant in various ways. Various parts of the plant can be consumed and research has focussed on the seeds and other parts of the plant. Care must be taken when applying this research because the effects of the seeds may not be the same as the effects of the roots and aerial parts of the plant due to different phytochemistry within the tissues. In particular the steroid diosgenin may be more concentrated in the seeds, and these may be responsible for the general restorative effects of the plant.
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