FenugreekFenugreek

Description• This is an annual herb, about two feet high.

• Three parts :

• DESCRIPTION- The hard, brown, red and yellow seeds are the part used medicinally and in cooking.

• SHAPE & COLOR - Brownish, about 1/8 inch long, oblong, rhomboidal, with a deep furrow dividing them into two unequal lobes.

• QUANTITY- They are contained, ten to twenty together, in long, narrow, sickle-like pods.

• TASTE - Bitter

Leaves Pea like flowers Seeds

HistorY• Used since ancient times in Egypt, Greece and Rome,

fenugreek seeds were said to be almost a panacea (good for everything)

• Fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal plants in history; a description of this plant was found on the Ebers Papyrus 1550 BC Egypt

• Fenugreek seeds have been recovered from Tell Halal, Iraq, (carbon dated to 4000 BC) Bronze Age levels.

• Through the times, been used for a variety of health conditions.

• Fenugreek has been around for thousands of years and used as a medicine, spice, and food for both humans and animals.

FenUGreeK seeDsFenUGreeK seeDs• Fenugreek Seeds are aromatic, bitter, may be eaten

raw or cooked.

• Bitterness is mainly due to the oil, steroidal saponins and alkaloids.

• It has a strong and quite peculiar odor, hence, used in a very small quantity as a spice.

• It has beautiful golden yellow color due to its coloring agent called coumadine.

• That is why fenugreek seeds were used for a yellow dye by ancient Indians and Egyptians

classiFication

• Other Common Names - Greek hay, Bird's Foot, Boyotu, Chinagreye, Fenegriek, Fenugreek, Foenum Graecum, Greek Hay-seed, Halva, Helba, Hu Lu Pa, K'U Tou, Kelabat, Koroha, Methi, Shimli, Sickle-fruit Fenugreek and Sicklefruit Fenugreek.

Kingdom Plantae

Division Magnoliophyta

Class Magnoliopsida

Order Fabales

Family Fabaceae

Genus Trigonella

Species foenum-graecum

Binomial name Trigonella foenum-graecum

EMBRYO

ENDOSPORE

SEED COAT

SEED STRUCTURE

• This endosperm contains galactomannan gum.

• The endosperm is surrounded by a tenacious, dark brown husk. The color of the gum fraction depends upon the amount of outer husk (brown color) and cotyledon (yellow color) present

Proximate Composition (%) Of Fenugreek SeedsProximate Composition (%) Of Fenugreek Seeds

Principle Nutrient Value(per 100g) Percentage of RDAEnergy 323 Kcal 16%Carbohydrates 58.35 g 45%Protein 23 g 41%Total Fat 6.41 g 21%Cholesterol 0 mg 0%Dietary Fiber 24.6 g 65%

Vitamins Folates 57 µg 14%Niacin 1.640 mg 7%Pyridoxine 0.600 mg 46%Riboflavin 0.366 mg 28%Thiamin 0.322 mg 27%Vitamin A 60 IU 2%Vitamin C 3 mg 5%

Electrolytes Sodium 67 mg 4.5%Potassium 770 mg 16%

Minerals Calcium 176 mg 18%Copper 1.110 mg 123%Iron 33.53 mg 419%Magnesium 191 mg 48%Manganese 1.228 mg 53%Phosphorus 296 mg 42%Selenium 6.3 µg 11%Zinc 2.50 mg 23%

ChEmiCal ConSTiTUEnTSSteroids C27 - Sapogenin

N- compounds Trigonelline, choline and betaine( anti-diabetic)

Anthocyanins Anthocyanidin-3-rhamnoside-5-glucosides

Flavonoids Quercitin, Luteolin ( contibutes to anti-microbial activity)

Volatile Hexenol, aniline, phenol,hexadecane,heptanoic acid. Odour – 3-hydroxy-4,5- dimethyl-2-furanone ( HDMF)

Amino acids Rich in lysine

Lipids Mono and di galactosylglycerides ( lenolenic acid) and phospho lipids.

PRoDUCTion• Fenugreek is a Rabi crop ( Sept-Oct)

• It require cool climate during vegetative growth & warm dry climate during maturity.

• Well drained loamy soil suits (pH6-7)

• Rich in organic matter with good drainage.

• Rajasthan with more than 80% area under fenugreek cultivation.

• 70-80% of world’s export is from India

Name Description Color of the seed

ResistanceTo Rot

Average Yield

Maturity

RMt 1 Semi-erect, tall and moderately branched plants

bold and yellow grains

Moderate 14.7 q/ha 140–150 days

Co 1 Short and green with medium-sized plants

brownish-orange seeds

tolerant 6.80 q/ha 95 days

Rajendra Kanti

Tall and bushy green plants

golden-yellow seeds

moderately 12.50 q/ha 120 days

Lam Selection 1

Bushy, green with medium-sized

golden yellow seeds

tolerant 7.40 q/ha 90 days

HM 103 Bushy, semi-erect yellow, attractive seeds

moderately 20.1 q/ha. 140–150 days

Hissar Sonali

Bushy, semi-erect bold, yellow, attractive grains

moderately 19.0 q/ha 140–150 days

Sowing• The land should be prepared but related ploughing

and harrowing (atleast twice).

• Ideal sowing time N. India is last week of Oct .

• Seeds are sown by the line sowing method

• Recommended seed rate for both the crops is 25kg/ha.

Seed treatment

The seeds should be treated with rhizobium culture before sowing

Sowing should be done 30cm apart in rows with a plant-to-plant spacing of 10 cm. The depth of seed should not exceed 5.0cm.

10–15 tons/ha is added to enrich the soil fertility.

IrrIGatIOn &HarVeStInG• Irrigation-A light irrigation is recommended soon after the sowing.

• Afterwards, about four irrigations are required at 30, 70–75, 85–90 and 105–110 days after sowing.

• Water stress during pod development stage is detrimental and hence care should be taken to avoid water stress at pod and seed development stages.

• Harvesting - Ideal time for harvesting is when the lower leaves of the plant start shedding and pods become yellowish in color.

• Harvesting is done manually by cutting the plants with sickles. Delay in harvesting may lead to shattering of seeds

POSt HarVeSt

• Threshing -is a process by which seeds are separated from the plants. Manual threshing is normally done on clean cemented floor

• Cleaning and Grading -Separated seeds are heaped together on the floor which is then cleaned of dust and straw by using winnowing fans.

• Storage Properly disinfested jute bags are used for packing fenugreek seeds and these bags are stored in damp-free aerated stores.

FENUGREEK SEED USES FENUGREEK SEED USES

FENUGREEK GALACTOMANNAN

Various industrial applications.

SAPONINS (DIOSGENIN)

Flavoring, sweetening, antioxidant, foaming, complexing, sequestration, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial propertiesThat’s why they are used as nutraceutical in food, drug, health food and cosmetic industry

FENUGREEK OLEORESINS

Used as an ingredient for imitation maple flavors and is effective in butter, butterscotch, black walnut, nut and spice flavors

IndUStrIaL PrOCeSS• Destoning - Reliable removal of high-density impurities such as stones and pieces of

metal and glass is achieved on the basis of differences in specific gravity. (Destoner MTSC)

• Combinator- For the classification of grain into heavy, and removal of light impurities with additional destoning. (MTKB - Combi-Cleaner with air-cycling system)

• Separation and Classification - Classifies various products according to size.Excellent separating efficiency. (Buhler Separator Classifier MTRB with aspiration channel MVSH)

Publication number- US5997877 Publication type- GrantApplication number- US 09/199,649

Types Galactomannan content

Gum A 86% of galactmannan White or slight yellowish powder with a slight original smell.

Gum B 80-86% of galactomannan light yellowish powder with a slight original smell.

Gum C 60-80% of galactomannan light brownish powder with a slight curry smell.

Fenugreek gum has three grades

FENUGREEK APPLICATION

FUNCTION USAGE LEVELS

Baked goods and breads

Provides texture , reatains moisture

0.15-0.45 %

Gravies and soups Adds viscosity and suspension 0.20-0.50 %

Dressing , sauces , dips

Adds viscosity , suspension and stabilizers emulsions

0.20-0.50 %

Beverages Adds viscosity and suspension 0.10-0.25 %

Frozen products Increses freeze/thaw stability 0.05-0.45 %

Nutritional bars Retains moisture 0.05-0.25 %

Meal replacement systems

Adds texture 0.05-0.50 %

Nutritional beverages Adds viscosity , suspension , mouthfeel

0.05-0.40 %

APPLICATIONS OF FENUGREEK GUM POWDERAPPLICATIONS OF FENUGREEK GUM POWDER

Reasons to consume fenugReek seeds

• It is cheap and easily available.

• Can be consumed in many forms - Fenugreek tea made from the seeds is used as a gargle in sore throats and for fevers. The drink is mucilaginous, nutritious, and soothing to the intestinal canal.

• The seeds are rich in dietary fiber, which may be the main reason it can lower blood sugar levels in diabetes.

• Fenugreek is useful for atherosclerosis, constipation, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia.

• It can be employed as a substitute for cod-liver oil in scrofula, rickets, anemia, debility following infectious diseases.