HERBAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS - Trigonella foenum-graecum (FENUGREEK)

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) plant is widely distributed throughout the world and which belongs to the family Fabacecae. The yields can be significant increase in quantity and quality through the suitable management of cultivation, irrigation and harvesting. The plant contains active constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, Saponins etc. It is an old medicinal plant. It has been commonly used as a traditional food and medicine. Fenugreek is known to have hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolaemic effects, Anti-inflammatory effects. Recent research has identified fenugreek as a valuable medicinal plant with potential for curing diseases and also as a source for preparing raw materials of pharmaceutical industry, like in steroidal hormones. Since fenugreek is a self-pollinated crop, a mutation breeding method can be used to generate mutants with a determinate growth habit.