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The health benefits and therapeutic uses of herbal products are known since ages. Developing and underdeveloped countries depend on plant – based medicines for treatment of diseases as they are cheaper and form the basis of their traditional medicinal systems. Trigonella foenum-graecum L., commonly known as fenugreek is a seed spice used to enhance flavor, color and texture of food. It has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems. It is also used as a galactogogue- lactation inducer. This article summarizes published experimental studies and scientific literature from PubMed, Google Scholar and local library searches. Besides its known medicinal properties, newer research has identified antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic effects of fenugreek. In most of the studies seed powder or different plant part extracts have been used. Research on Trigonella reveals its health benefits and potential medicinal properties in various symptoms and has little or no side effects, suggesting its pharmaceutical, therapeutic and nutritional potential. In this article, the most important biological effects and reported compounds about fenugreek seed and its therapeutic applications are investigated. Findings based on its traditional uses and scientific evaluation indicates that phytochemical studies have shown the presence of various categories of secondary metabolites, such as, saponins, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acid derivatives, amino acids and fatty acids and their derivatives. Compiled data indicates its effectiveness on several pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, cardiovascular, anticancer, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and carminative. Fenugreek has emerged as a good source of traditional medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development and generation of new drugs and future clinical uses.

Keywords: Health, Phytochemical, Traditional medicine, Therapeutic, Trigonella foenum-graecum L.