Current perspectives on fenugreek bioactive compounds and their potential impact on human health: A review of recent insights into functional foods and other high value applications.

2024-02-26
Journal of food science 89(4)
- Muhammad H Alu'datt
- Taha Rababah
- Saleh Al-Ali
- Carole C Tranchant
- Sana Gammoh
- Mohammad Alrosan
- Stan Kubow
- Thuan-Chew Tan
- Salsabeel Ghatasheh

PubMed: 38407443
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16970

Study Design

Type: Review

Rigorous Journal

Despite long-standing uses in several food and medicine traditions, the full potential of the leguminous crop fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) remains to be realized in the modern diet. Not only its seeds, which are highly prized for their culinary and medicinal properties, but also its leaves and stems abound in phytochemicals with high nutritional and health promoting attributes. Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects, with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels. Effectiveness in alleviating certain inflammatory skin conditions and dysfunctions of the reproductive system was also suggested. As a food ingredient, fenugreek can enhance the sensory, nutritional, and nutraceutical qualities of a wide variety of foods. Its high nutritive density can assist with the design of dietary items that meet the demand for novelty, variety, and healthier foods. Its seeds provide essential protective nutrients and other bioactive compounds, notably galactomannans, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, and essential oils, whose health benefits, alone or in conjunction with other bioactives, are only beginning to be tapped into in the food industries. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on fenugreek potential for functional food development, focusing on the nutrients and non-nutrient bioactive components of interest from a dietary perspective, and their applications for enhancing the functional and nutraceutical value of foods and beverages. New developments, safety, clinical evidence, presumed mechanisms of action, and future perspectives are discussed. HIGHLIGHTS: Fenugreek seeds and leaves have long-standing uses in the food-medicine continuum. Fenugreek phytochemicals exert broad-spectrum biological and pharmacological activities. They show high preventive and nutraceutical potential against common chronic diseases. Current evidence supports multiple mechanisms of action mediated by distinct bioactives. Opportunities for fenugreek-based functional foods and nutraceuticals are expanding.

Research Insights

Fenugreek Seed→Improved Cardiac Function
with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Central Nervous System Function
with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Digestive Function
with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Endocrine Function
with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Immune Function
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Inflammatory Skin Condition
Effectiveness in alleviating certain inflammatory skin conditions and dysfunctions of the reproductive system was also suggested.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Liver Function
with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Improved Reproductive Health
Effectiveness in alleviating certain inflammatory skin conditions and dysfunctions of the reproductive system was also suggested.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Blood Glucose Levels
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Blood Lipid Levels
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Blood Pressure
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Cancer Risk
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Inflammation
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Oxidative Stress
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Fenugreek Seed→Reduced Pain
Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate