Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum L.Fabaceae // seed
Overview
Plant parts
seed
Known constituents
galactomannans, steroidal saponins, 4-hydroxyisoleucine
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include galactomannans; steroidal saponins; 4-hydroxyisoleucine; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Fenugreek has been used for digestion; glucose control; lactation support; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (digestion; glucose control; lactation support), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited/mixed meta-analyses for glycemic outcomes; insufficient reliable evidence for lactation.
MODERATE · systematic review/meta-analysis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is seed; traditional and modern forms include infusion/tea, tincture, powder/capsule, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include GI effects, maple-syrup odor, allergy; hypoglycemia. Contraindications/cautions include Peanut/chickpea allergy cross-reactivity; pregnancy.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Additive with diabetes drugs and anticoagulants; may alter oral-drug absorption.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid medicinal amounts in pregnancy due to uterine-stimulation concerns.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
Botanical synonym
Foenum-graecum officinale Moench
Taxonomic identity note
- Fenugreek is treated here as Trigonella foenum-graecum L. in the family Fabaceae; recorded older names include Foenum-graecum officinale Moench.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
- NCCIH Herbs at a Glance3 claims
NCCIH fact sheet
NIH LiverTox monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
WHO monograph