Fenugreek

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Archive: May not be cited for licence application purposes.

Date: January 28, 2008

Proper name(s): Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fabaceae) (USDA 2008)

Common name(s): Fenugreek (McGuffin et al. 2000)

Source material(s): Seed (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Route(s) of administration: Oral or topical

Dosage form(s): Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration.
This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or Purpose(s): Statements to the effect of:

Oral:

• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help stimulate the appetite (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; Blumenthal et al. 2000).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as a digestive tonic to aid digestion (Williamson et al. 1988; Mills 1985; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve dyspepsia and gastritis (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000; Mills 1985; Grieve 1971 [1931]; Wren 1907).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as a mild laxative (Bradley 2006; Williamson et al.1988).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as an expectorant (Williamson et al.1988) to help relieve catarrh of the upper respiratory passages (Wichtl 2004).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve general debility and/or to aid during convalescence (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; Blumenthal 2000; Mills 1985).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as a galactogogue/lactogogue to help promote milk production/secretion (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; Mills 1985).

Topical: Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help heal minor skin wounds, burns, irritations and local inflammations (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000; Meyer 1993; Mills 1985; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]; Wren 1907).

Dose(s):

Oral: Preparations equivalent to 2-30 g seeds, per day (Bradley 2006; Mills and Bone 2005; Blumenthal et al. 2000; Mills 1985; Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]; Grieve 1971 [1931]; Wren 1907)

Topical: Preparations equivalent to 50 g powdered seed (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use:
Apply to affected area as needed.
Add to hot bath (Blumenthal et al. 2000).

See Appendix 1 for examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use, according to cited references. The purpose of Appendix 1 is to provide guidance to industry.

Duration of use: No statement is required.

Risk Information: Statement(s) to the effect of:

Cautions and warnings:

Oral:

• Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant (Mills et al. 2006; Hoffman 2003; Blumenthal et al. 2000; Brinker 2001; McGuffin et al. 1997).
• Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have diabetes and/or are undergoing hypoglycaemic therapy (Brinker 2007; Mills and Bone 2005).

Topical: Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.

Contraindications: No statement is required.

Known adverse reactions: No statement is required.

Non-medicinal Ingredients: Must be chosen from the current NHPD List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients and must meet the limitations outlined in the list.

Specifications: Must comply with the minimum specifications outlined in the current NHPD Compendium of Monographs.

References cited:

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2001.

Brinker F. Online Updates and Additions to Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3^rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2007. [Accessed 2008-01-21]. Available at: http://www.eclecticherb.com/emp/updatesHCDI.html

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory, Volume 1, 18^th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1898 original].

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, Volume 1. New York (NY): Dover Publications; 1971 [Reprint of 1931 Harcourt, Brace & Company publication].

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press; 2003.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1997.

McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2^nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.

Meyer JE. The Herbalist. Glenwood (IL): Meyerbooks; 1993.

Mills E, Duguoa J, Perri D, Koren G. Herbal Medicines in Pregnancy and Lactation. An Evidence-Based Approach. London (GB) and New York (NY): Taylor and Francis; 2006.

Mills S. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. Wellingborough (UK): Thorsons Publishers Ltd; 1985.

Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

USDA 2008: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Trigonella foenum-graecum L. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2008-01-25]. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Wichtl M, editor. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis, 3^rd edition. Stuttgart (Germany): Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers; 2004.

Williamson EM, Evans FJ, Wren RC. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Saffron Walden (UK): C.W. Daniel Company Limited; 1988.

Wren RC. Potter's Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. London (UK): Potter and Clark; 1907.

References reviewed:

API 1999: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Volume II, 1^st edition. Delhi (India): The Controller of Publications; 1999.

Barnes J, Anderson LA, Philipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, 2nd edition. London (UK): The Pharmaceutical Press; 2002.

Bartram T. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. New York (NY): Marlowe and Company; 1998.

BHP 1996: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Bournemouth (UK): The British Herbal Medicine Association; 1996.

Bisset NG, Wichtl M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, 2^nd edition. Stuttgart (Germany): Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers; 2001.

Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 1. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992.

Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1919 original].

Felter HW. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1922 original].

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, editors. PDR for Herbal Medicines, 3^rd edition. Montvale (NJ): Thompson PDR; 2004.

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, editors. PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2^nd edition. Montvale (NJ): Medical Economics Co; 1998.

Korman SH, Cohen E., Preminger A. Pseudo-maple syrup urine disease due to maternal prenatal ingestion of fenugreek. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 2001;37(4):403-404.

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Toronto (ON): Arkana; 1993.

Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Toronto (ON): Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

PasseportSanté.net 2008: Fenugrec. Montreal (QC): Totalmédia inc.; 2008. [Accessed 2008-01-21]. Available from : http://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/Plantes
Supplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=fenugrec_ps

Yalçin SS., Tekinalp G, Ozalp I. Peculiar odor of traditional food and maple syrup urine disease. Pediatrics International 1999;41(1):108-109.

Appendix 1: Examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use

Oral

Seed:

• 2 g crushed seed, 1 to 3 times per day (Bradley 2006)
• 2 g dried seed, per day (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 6 g cut or crushed seed, per day (Blumenthal et al. 2000)
• 1-6 g dried seed, 3 times per day (Mills 1985)

Directions for use: Take with adequate fluid before a meal (Bradley 2006)

Decoction: 30 g (~ 6 tsp) seed, per day (Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]; Grieve 1971 [1931]; Wren 1907)

Directions for use: Place seeds in 475 ml (~ 2 cups) water, bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Let cool, strain and rinse with enough water to make the preparation measure 475 ml (Felter and Lloyd 1983 [1898]).

Fluid extract:

• 2 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:1, 2 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 6 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:1, 6 ml) (Blumenthal et al. 2000)
• 1 to 6 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:1, 1-6 ml) (Mills 1985)

Tincture:

• 2 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:5, 10 ml) (Mills and Bone 2005)
• 6 g dried equivalent, per day
  (1:5, 30 ml) (Blumenthal et al. 2000)
• 1 to 6 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day (Mills 1985)

Maceration: 0.5 g cut or crushed seed, several times (up to 12) per day (Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use: Place cut or crushed seed in 150 ml cold water, let stand for 3 hours, strain. Drink several times (up to 12) per day (Blumenthal et al. 2000).

Topical:

Powdered seed: 50 g (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000)

Directions for use:

• Add powdered seed to 250 ml (1 cup) of water and boil for 5 minutes (Bradley 2006). Apply to affected area as needed.
• Add powdered seed to 1 L hot water and make a semi-solid paste. Apply to affected area as needed (Blumenthal et al. 2000).
• Mix 50 g powdered seed with 250 ml (1 cup) water. Add to hot bath (Blumenthal et al. 2000).