According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, fenugreek has historically been used for diverse health conditions, including treating symptoms of menopause, digestive ailments, and inducing childbirth.Today, fenugreek is being studied for possible benefits in treating diseases such as high cholesterol and diabetes. It may also help to defend the liver from damage caused by alcohol and other chemicals. As with any herb, consult your doctor before using fenugreek medicinally.
Alcohol-Related Damage
Preliminary scientific information from animal studies suggests that fenugreek may protect the liver from alcohol-induced injury. One study published in “Cell Biology and Toxicology” in 2008 demonstrated that fenugreek reversed the liver damage caused by chronic alcohol feeding in laboratory animals. These beneficial effects were also found to be similar to those of a substance called silymarin, which has known protective effects of the liver from alcohol injury.
Chemical Damage
Some scientific evidence also supports the beneficial effects of fenugreek against chemically induced liver toxicity. According to a study published in the journal "Human and Experimental Toxicology" in 2010, fenugreek reversed the liver damage caused by a pesticide called cypermethrin. In this study, laboratory animals with evidence of liver damage from the pesticide that were treated with fenugreek had near-normal liver function after 60 days of treatment. The authors concluded that fenugreek may provide protection against pesticide-induced liver toxicity.
Antioxidant Effects
Oxidative stress is a condition in which your antioxidant levels are lower than normal. Fenugreek may reduce the oxidative stress on the liver, kidneys and pancreas caused by diabetes, according to a study published in the "Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology" in 2001. These researchers found that fenugreek supplementation in laboratory animals with diabetes resulted in increased levels of antioxidants and decreased oxidative stress in the liver and other organs.
Considerations
Fenugreek may occasionally cause mild side effects such as gas, bloating and diarrhea, says NCCAM. It may also make your urine smell like maple syrup. Fenugreek may cause your blood sugar levels to be too low if you take it in high doses for prolonged periods of time or if you take it along with your diabetes medicines. You should not take fenugreek if you are pregnant, because it can induce a miscarriage.
References
- National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine: Fenugreek
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation: Fenugreek
- Drug Digest: Fenugreek
- “Cell Biology and Toxicology”; Protective action of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seed polyphenols against alcohol-induced protein and lipid damage in rat liver; S. Kaviarasan, et al.; October 2008
- "Human and Experimental Toxicology"; Aqueous Extract of Trigonella Foenum Graecum (Fenugreek) Prevents Cypermethrin-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity; N Sushma, et al.; April 2010
- "Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology”; Restoration on tissue antioxidants by fenugreek seeds (Trigonella Foenum Graecum) in alloxan-diabetic rats; CV Anuradha, et al.; October 2001
