Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1995; 39(2): 173-174

SHORT COMMUNICATION

EFFECT OF TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRAECUM (FENUGREEK)ON BLOOD GLUCOSE IN NORMAL AND DIABETIC RATS

P. KHOSLA*, D. D. GUPTA AND R. K. NAGPAL**

Departments of Pharmacology and "Biochemistry,Pt. B. D. Sharma Medical College,Rohtak - 124 00 I

( Received on August 22, 1993 )

Abstract: Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) was administered at 2 and. 8 g/kg dose orally to normal and alloxan iduced diabetic rats. It produced asignificant fall (P < 0.05) in blood glucose both in the normal as well asdiabetic rats and the hypoglycemic effect was dose related.

Key words: rat

blood glucose

INTRODUCTION

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I

Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) containsan alkaloid trigonelline and an essential oil. Its roleas an antidiabetic has been described by Nadkarni(I). To produce hypoglycemic effect, Feungreek seedshave been used as whole seed powder and cooked orroasted seed powder( I, 2, 3).

The present work was undertaken to study theeffect of Fenugreek seeds on blood glucose levels innormal and alloxan induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

Thirty Wi star rats of either sex maintained onstandard diet were administered unroasted Fenugreekseed powder mixed with the diet daily in a low doseof 2 g /kg and high dose of 8 g /kg body weight. Ina preliminary study it was observed that roasted seedshad no effect on blood glucose levels in rats.

The animals were divided in two groups offifteen rats each. Group A was further divided into 3subgroups AI to A3 consisting of 5 animals each.

Group B was made diabetic by a singleintraperitoneal injection of 'Ulloxan monohydrate 5%w/v in normal saline in a dose of 120 mg/kg, b.w.

Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek)

alloxan induced diabetes

Rats with blood glucose level higher than three timesthe normal after 3 days were included in the study.The diabetic rats thus selected were also divided into3 subgroups (BI - B3) of 5 each. Rats in subgroups AIand B I served as control. Fenugreek seed powder wasadministered in a dose of 2 g/kg to groups A2 and B1and 8 g/kg to groups A3 and BJ"

After an overnight fast samples of blood werewithdrawn through cardiac puncture under ketamineanaesthesia (50 mg/kg, im). The blood samplestaken before, after I and 2 weeks of Fenugreekadministration were estimated for glucose byDubowski's method (4). Statistical analysis was doneusing Student's 't ' test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Blood glucose level decreased significantly bothin normal and diabetic rats following unroastedFenugreek seed powder administration (Table I). Thehypoglycemic effect was more pronounced with higherdose. The percentage fall was 23.09% with high doseand 15.59% with the low dose in normal rats and21.33% and 13.2% in diabetic rats respectively.

The hypoglycemic effect of Fenugreek has beenshown in normal rats (5), and nondiabetic man (3).

*Corresponding Author

I 74 Khosla et al Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1995; 39(2)

TABLE I: Blood glucos.e level (mg%±SEM) in normal and diabetic rats followingadministration of Fenugreek seed powder (n=5 in each group).

Group Dose g/kg BeforeAfter treatment

1 week 2 weeks

Normal

A, Control 62.4 ± 3.152 62.0 ± 2.172 62.0 ± 2.064

A2 2 65.4 ± 2.616 60.4 ± 2.491 55.2 ± 0.715*

A) 8 70.4 ± 4.661 65.6 ± 3.853* 54.2 ± 0.867*

Diabetic

B, Control 217.0 ± 8.265 216.4 ± 8.268 219.6 ± 7 '19

B2 2 250.0 ± 5.657 236.0 ± 2.601 217.0 ~

B) 8 240.0 ±11.013 204.0 ± 7.209** \84.0 L.**

P value *< 0.05; **< 0.01

Riyad et aJ (2) has not advocated its use in diabetesmellitus. However, their observations indicate apreventive role in the rats pretreated with Frenugreekbefore the induction of diabetes where they haveshown reduction in the severity of onset ofexperimental diabetes and improvement in the diabeticstatus when followed by feeding of the same diet.

Fenugreek resembles guar gum in its high dietryfibre content and high viscosity(6). Its hypoglycemic

effect is probably partly because of these factors.However, some other mechanisms might also beoperative since viscosity does not appear to beresponsible for the slow absorption and digestion oflegume carbohydrates (7) and antidiabetic effect maybe due to intestinal glucosidase inhibition (2).

Fenugreek seeds along with diet can have amodulatory role in the treatment of diabetes mellitusand can form a part of therapy in its management.

REFERENCES

I. Nadkarni KM. Trigonella foenum graecum. In: Indian MateriaMedica. Bombay Popular Prakash an 1954; pp 1240-1243.

2. Riyad MA, Abdul-Ghani AS, Sulernan MS. Effect of Fenugreekand Lupine seeds on the development of experimental diabetesin rats. Planta Med 1988; 4(54): 286-290.

3. Sharma RD. Role of Fenugreek Seeds in diabetes mellitus.ICMR Bulletin, Division of Publication and Information ICMR,New Delhi 1987; 17(9): 79-83.

4. Dubowski KM. Blood Sugar Estimation of Orthotoluidinemethod. Clin Chem 1962; 8: 215-222.

5. Mishkinsky JS, Goldschemied A, Joseph B, Ahronson Z,Sui man FG. Hypoglycaemic Effect of Trigonella FoenumGraecum and Lupinus Termis (Leguminosae) seeds and theirMajor Alkaloids in Alloxan-Diabetic and Normal Rats. ArchIntern Pharmacodyn Tiler 1974; 210: 27-37.

6. Valette G, Sauvaire Y, Beccou JC, Ribes G.Hypocholestrolaemic effect of Fenugreek seeds in dogs.Atherosclerosis 1984; 50: 105-111.

7. Susan W, Traianedes K, O'Dea K. Factors affecting the rate ofhydrolysis of starch in legumes. Am J Clin Nile 1975; 82:853-854.