Soluble dietary fibre fraction ofTrigonella foenum-graecum(fenugreek) seed improves glucose homeostasis in animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes by delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancing insulin action

Abstract

Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds have been documented as a traditional plant treatment for diabetes. In the present study, the antidiabetic properties of a soluble dietary fibre (SDF) fraction of T. foenum-graecum were evaluated. Administration of SDF fraction (0·5 g/kg body weight) to normal, type 1 or type 2 diabetic rats significantly improved oral glucose tolerance. Total remaining unabsorbed sucrose in the gastrointestinal tract of non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats, following oral sucrose loading (2·5 g/kg body weight) was significantly increased by T. foenum-graecum (0·5 g/kg body weight). The SDF fraction suppressed the elevation of blood glucose after oral sucrose ingestion in both non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats. Intestinal disaccharidase activity and glucose absorption were decreased and gastrointestinal motility increased by the SDF fraction. Daily oral administration of SDF to type 2 diabetic rats for 28 d decreased serum glucose, increased liver glycogen content and enhanced total antioxidant status. Serum insulin and insulin secretion were not affected by the SDF fraction. Glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and insulin action were increased by T. foenum-graecum. The present findings indicate that the SDF fraction of T. foenum-graecum seeds exerts antidiabetic effects mediated through inhibition of carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancement of peripheral insulin action.

Isolation of Positive Modulator of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Signaling from Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) Seed

“…Several longer term clinical trials have also shown that administration of fenugreek seeds reduces fasting and post-prandial glucose levels and decreases glycated hemoglobin (33). Soluble fiber (45,46), saponins (47), trigonelline (48), diosgenin (49), and 4-hydroxyisoleucine (50) from fenugreek seeds have been suggested to mediate its hypoglycemic effect (33). The exact molecular targets and mechanisms remain unknown; however, N55 from fenugreek may potentially play a role in ameliorating glucose excursion in diabetes.…”

Effect of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum seed powder on anthropometrical and nutritional parameter

“…Obesity is characterized by body weight gain due to an increase in numbers and sizes of adipocytes (Karpovets et al, 2014;Konopelnyuk et al, 2015). Thus, it is important to reduce body weight and body fat to prevent obesity, and the increase in body fat mass.…”

“…The presence of the viscous fiber from fenugreek may have played a role in promoting satiety by slowing the rates of gastric emptying. Fenugreek galactomannan has been shown to slow gastric emptying in animal models (Hannan et al, 2007).…”

Regulation of hepatic and mucosal 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase activity by trigonella foenum-graecum linn (fenugreek) seeds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Fenugreek is widely used as a supplementary treatment for diabetes [10,11]. It causes dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose in normal and diabetic rats [12].…”

“…Human studies have shown that fenugreek causes reduction in blood glucose in type-1 and type diabetes-2 [10,13]. Preliminary reports suggested possible hypoglycemic effect of fenugreek seeds are related to high fiber content, high viscosity, inhibition of intestinal glycosidase activity [14], inhibition of glucagon release, increase in sensitivity to insulin [15], increase glucose-induced insulin secretion [16,17], potentiating insulin action [18], and inhibiting intestinal carbohydrate digestion and absorption [11]. Although, the anti-hyperglycemic effect of fenugreek has been shown in animal and human studies, the reports published so far on the hypoglycemic effect of fenugreek could not establish a direct relationship with glucose metabolism in diabetes mellitus.…”