Trigone Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat: Kashmir to Sikkim, and in Bihar and West Bengal. Cultivated in North India.

Unani: Pirang.

Folk: Kasuri Methi, Maarwaari Methi, Champaa Methi.

Action: Leaves—rich in phosphorus. Fruits—bitter, astringent and styptic. Applied to swellings and bruises.

The seeds afforded ethyl-alpha-D- galactopyranoside, glycoflavones—vi- texin (apigenin-C-glucoside), apige- nin-6-8-di-C-monoglucoside and its monoacetate; also contain triacontane, 22,23-dihydrostigmasterol, choline and betaine; saponins on hydrolysis gave yuccagenin and diosgenin.... trigonella corniculata

Linn.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat: Widely cultivated in many parts of India.

English: Fenugreek.

Ayurvedic: Methikaa, Methi, Vastikaa, Selu, Methini, Dipani, Bahupatrikaa, Bodhaini, Gand- haphala.

Unani: Hulbaa, Methi.

Siddha/Tamil: Vendhayam.

Action: Seeds—used in loss of appetite, flatulence, dyspepsia, colic; diarrhoea, dysentery; enlargement of liver and spleen; and as a lactagogue and puerperal tonic.

Key application: German Commission E reported secretolytic, hypermic and mild antiseptic activity of the seed. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia reported its actions as demulcent and hy- poglycaemic. ESCOP and WHO monographs indicate the use of seeds in adjuvant therapy for diabetes mellitus, anorexia, also in hypercholesterolemia.

The seeds gave alkaloids, including trigonelline, gentianine and carpaine; saponins, based mainly on the sa- pogenins, diosgenin and its isomer yamogenin, gitogenin and tigogenin; flavonoids, including vitexin and its glycosides and esters and luteolin; a volatile oil in small quantities. The mucilage (25-30%) is mostly a galac- tomannan.

A C-steroidal sapogenin peptide ester, fenugreekine, exhibited hypogly- caemic activity.

About 80% of the total content of free amino acids in the seeds is present as 4-hydroxyisoleucine, which appears to directly stimulate insulin. (Eur J Pharmacol, 390, 2000; Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Saponin rich extracts reduce blood levels of the cholesterol. The fibrous fraction of seeds also causes a reduction in blood lipids.

The aqueous extract is demulcent, promoted healing of gastric ulcers produced experimentally in rats and exhibited a smooth muscle relaxing effect in rabbits without affecting either the heart or blood pressure.

Fenugreek has been reported to stimulate the liver microsomal cy- tochrome P450 dependent aryl hy- droxylase and cytochrome b5 in rats; increased bile secretion has also been observed.

Fenugreek extract containing trigo- nelline and trigonellic acid maybe used as a hair growth stimulant.

Dosage: Seed—3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... trigonella foenum-graecum

Benth.

Synonym: T. polycerata auct. non L.

Family: Papillionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat: Punjab plains and Western Himalaya, up to 1,800 m.

Folk: Sainji, Chini, Shirgona (Punjab), Chainhari (Delhi), Methi (related species).

Action: Seeds—antidiarrhoeic.

Aerial parts and pods contain steroidal sapogenins—diosgenin 0.04, 0.25; and tigogenin 0.008, 0.18% respectively.

Various plant parts and tissues in culture contain flavonoids, the major being luteolin, besides kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin.... trigonella incisa

Boiss.

Family: Papilionaceae, Fabaceae.

Habitat: Afghanistan, Persia.

English: Tonkin Bean, Melilot, King's Crown.

Unani: Iklil-ul-Malik (also equated with Melilotus alba Desv., and Astragalus homosus Linn.).

Folk: Sainji (white-flowered var.).

Action: Beans—anti-inflammatory, anodyne, diuretic, emmenagogue. (Indian species, bearing smaller beans, has been equated with Trigonella corniculata and is known as Pirang.)... trigonella uncata