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Alu'datt MH, Rababah T, Al-Ali S, Tranchant CC, Gammoh S, Alrosan M, Kubow S, Tan TC, Ghatasheh S. Current perspectives on fenugreek bioactive compounds and their potential impact on human health: A review of recent insights into functional foods and other high value applications. J Food Sci 2024; 89:1835-1864. [PMID: 38407443 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Despite long-standing uses in several food and medicine traditions, the full potential of the leguminous crop fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) remains to be realized in the modern diet. Not only its seeds, which are highly prized for their culinary and medicinal properties, but also its leaves and stems abound in phytochemicals with high nutritional and health promoting attributes. Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects, with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels. Effectiveness in alleviating certain inflammatory skin conditions and dysfunctions of the reproductive system was also suggested. As a food ingredient, fenugreek can enhance the sensory, nutritional, and nutraceutical qualities of a wide variety of foods. Its high nutritive density can assist with the design of dietary items that meet the demand for novelty, variety, and healthier foods. Its seeds provide essential protective nutrients and other bioactive compounds, notably galactomannans, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, and essential oils, whose health benefits, alone or in conjunction with other bioactives, are only beginning to be tapped into in the food industries. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on fenugreek potential for functional food development, focusing on the nutrients and non-nutrient bioactive components of interest from a dietary perspective, and their applications for enhancing the functional and nutraceutical value of foods and beverages. New developments, safety, clinical evidence, presumed mechanisms of action, and future perspectives are discussed. HIGHLIGHTS: Fenugreek seeds and leaves have long-standing uses in the food-medicine continuum. Fenugreek phytochemicals exert broad-spectrum biological and pharmacological activities. They show high preventive and nutraceutical potential against common chronic diseases. Current evidence supports multiple mechanisms of action mediated by distinct bioactives. Opportunities for fenugreek-based functional foods and nutraceuticals are expanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad H Alu'datt
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Taha Rababah
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Saleh Al-Ali
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Carole C Tranchant
- School of Food Science, Nutrition and Family Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences and Community Services, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Sana Gammoh
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mohammad Alrosan
- Food Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
- Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Stan Kubow
- School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thuan-Chew Tan
- Food Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Salsabeel Ghatasheh
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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Laryea MD, Mayatepek E, Ahmed HM, Gillhausen K, Leichsenring M, Lombeck I, Bremer HJ. Composition of foods and dishes commonly consumed in villages of the Gezira area of Sudan. III. Fatty Acids, Retinol, α‐, β‐ Carotene and Tocopherols. Ecol Food Nutr 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/03670244.1991.9991217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Laryea MD, Leichsenring M, Mrotzek M, el-Amin EO, el Kharib AO, Ahmed HM, Bremer HJ. Fatty acid composition of the milk of well-nourished Sudanese women. Int J Food Sci Nutr 1995; 46:205-14. [PMID: 7584158 DOI: 10.3109/09637489509012550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The fatty acid (FA) composition of samples of breast milk obtained from well-nourished Sudanese women was determined by capillary gas chromatography. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) constituted 46%, monoenoic acids (MONOENE) 33% and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) accounted for 21% of total fatty acids. The mean value (18.28%) of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid was comparable to the levels reported for well-nourished mothers from industrialised countries. The proportions of fatty acids synthesised de novo in the mammary gland (10:0, 12:0, 14:0) were less than expected from published studies of mothers consuming low fat diet averaging 17.4%. The amount of 22:6 n-3 which is synthesised from 18:3 n-3 and also taken up by consumption of fish were found to be low. The possible nutritional implications of the low n-3 fatty acids for the infants should therefore be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Laryea
- University Children's Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
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