Some biological effects of Trigonella foenum- graecom L, in healthy men

Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumm- graecum L.) is widely used against several diseases. It owned great interest because it contains numerous biologically active substances. In this work, the in vivo effect of fenugreek seeds’ intake on hemodynamic, blood sugar level and hematological parameters was evaluated in healthy volunteers. Ten healthy volunteer men were included in the experiment. Their overnight fasting blood sugar level, hemodynamic and hematological parameters were measured before, and one hour after the intake of 10 g of powdered fenugreek seeds in a water suspension. The T-paired test showed significant decrease in the arterial blood pressure (from 9,2 ± 0,65 to 8,43 ± 0,31cmHg for the mean arterial pressure; and 7,8 ± 1,03 to 6,7 ± 0,67cmHgfor the arterial diastolic pressure) and heart frequency (from 77,3 ± 3,23 to 75,40 ± 3,37 bits/min), and an increase in total white blood cell (8,24 ± 2,29and 9,16± 2,20.103/µL; p ≤0,01) and granulocytes (5,26± 1,94 to 5,70 ± 1,86 .103/µL, p ≤0,01) counts, one hour after fenugreek seeds intake. In addition the overnight- fasting blood sugar level was diminished from 5,71 ± 0,37 to 5,37± 0,44 mmol/L, at p ≤ 0,001.The present work demonstrates the potential anti-hypertensive and anti-hyperglycemic effects of fenugreek seeds, and may support its use as alternate remedy against these chronic pathologies but cautions its application before conducting specific allergic tests .