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botanical illustration of Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum

botanical record · discovered

Fenugreek

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Fenugreek · Greek Clover · Greek Hay · Bockshornklee (Ger.) · Alholva (Sp.) · Alforfa · Alforvas · Almindelig bukkehorn · Bockshornklee · Classical Fenugreek · Cỏ ca ri · Fenegriek · Feno-grego · Fenugrec · Ffenigrig · Fieno greco comune · Fienu · Greek hay

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, India(Santal), China, Chile, Egypt, Austria, Java, Sudan

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Aphrodisiac, Astringent, Baldness, Beri-Beri

Science studied: ACETYL-CHOLINE, ALUMINUM, GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID, ARACHIDIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Fabaceae

Scientific name: Trigonella foenum-graecum

Common names: Fenugreek, Greek Clover, Greek Hay, Bockshornklee (Ger.), Alholva (Sp.), Alforfa, Alforvas, Almindelig bukkehorn, Bockshornklee, Classical Fenugreek, Cỏ ca ri, Fenegriek, Feno-grego, Fenugrec, Ffenigrig, Fieno greco comune, Fienu, Greek hay

POWO: 523957-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Turkey, India(Santal), China, Elsewhere, Chile, Egypt, Austria, Java and 9 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

  • Aphrodisiac
  • Astringent
  • Baldness
  • Beri-Beri
  • Bladder
  • Boil
  • Cancer
  • Carminative
show 41 more documented entries
  • Chancre
  • Cosmetic
  • Cystitis
  • Demulcent
  • Deobstruent
  • Diabetes
  • Diarrhea
  • Diuretic
  • Dysentery
  • Dyspepsia
  • Emollient
  • Frigidity?
  • Gastritis
  • Gonorrhea
  • Hairblack
  • Hernia
  • Repellant(Insect)
  • Kidney
  • Lactogogue
  • Piles
  • Renitis
  • Sore
  • Spice
  • Stimulant
  • Tonic
  • Tumor
  • Tumor(Abdomen)
  • Wound
  • Arthritis
  • Ejaculation
  • Impotency
  • Abdomen
  • Anodyne
  • Emmenagogue
  • Lactagogue
  • Smallpox
  • Syphilis
  • Coffee
  • Edema
  • Hydrocoele
  • Uterus

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

  • Turkey
  • India(Santal)
  • China
  • Elsewhere
  • Chile
  • Egypt
  • Austria
  • Java
  • Sudan
  • Mediterranean
  • "
  • Spain
show 5 more documented entries
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Malaya
  • Belgium

Documented cultural uses

  • Aphrodisiac
  • Astringent
  • Baldness
  • Beri-Beri
  • Bladder
  • Boil
  • Cancer
  • Carminative
  • Chancre
  • Cosmetic
  • Cystitis
  • Demulcent
show 37 more documented entries
  • Deobstruent
  • Diabetes
  • Diarrhea
  • Diuretic
  • Dysentery
  • Dyspepsia
  • Emollient
  • Frigidity?
  • Gastritis
  • Gonorrhea
  • Hairblack
  • Hernia
  • Repellant(Insect)
  • Kidney
  • Lactogogue
  • Piles
  • Renitis
  • Sore
  • Spice
  • Stimulant
  • Tonic
  • Tumor
  • Tumor(Abdomen)
  • Wound
  • Arthritis
  • Ejaculation
  • Impotency
  • Abdomen
  • Anodyne
  • Emmenagogue
  • Lactagogue
  • Smallpox
  • Syphilis
  • Coffee
  • Edema
  • Hydrocoele
  • Uterus

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

  • Aphrodisiac · Turkey · "
  • Astringent · Turkey · "
  • Baldness · India(Santal) · "
  • Beri-Beri · China · "
  • Bladder · China · "
  • Boil · Elsewhere · "
  • Cancer · Chile · "
  • Cancer · Egypt · "
  • Cancer · Austria · "
  • Carminative · China · "
  • Carminative · Elsewhere · "
  • Chancre · India(Santal) · "
  • Cosmetic · Java · "
  • Cystitis · India(Santal) · "
  • Demulcent · China · "
  • Demulcent · Elsewhere · "
  • Deobstruent · China · "
  • Diabetes · Elsewhere · "
  • Diarrhea · Sudan · "
  • Diuretic · Turkey · "
  • Dysentery · Sudan · "
  • Dyspepsia · Sudan · "
  • Emollient · Mediterranean · "
  • Emollient · Elsewhere · "

39 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

  • The effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on stallion spermatozoa motility and vitality in vitro. · 2026 source ↗
  • Protective Effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum Extract Against Lead Toxicity: Integrated Redox, Endocrine, and Spermatogenic Responses. · 2026 source ↗
  • Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) as a functional food associated with improved heat-stress survival in Caenorhabditis elegans. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

  • ACETYL-CHOLINE
  • ALUMINUM
  • GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID
  • ARACHIDIC-ACID
  • ARGININE
  • ASCORBIC-ACID
  • ASH
  • ASPARTIC-ACID
  • BEHENIC-ACID
  • CALCIUM
  • BETA-CAROTENE
  • CARPAINE
  • CHOLINE
  • CHLORINE
  • COBALT
  • COPPER
show 241 more documented entries
  • CYANOCOBALAMIN
  • CYSTINE
  • DIHYDROACTINIDIOLIDE
  • DIOSCIN
  • DIOSGENIN
  • ELEMENE
  • FENUGREEKINE
  • FIBER
  • FOLACIN
  • GALACTINOL
  • ALPHA-GALACTOSIDASE
  • GENTIANINE
  • GLYCINE
  • HOMOORIENTIN
  • 3-HYDROXY-4,5-DIMETHYL-2-FURANONE
  • 4-HYDROXYISOLEUCINE-LACTONE
  • KILOCALORIES
  • LECITHIN
  • LUTEOLIN
  • LYSINE
  • MANGANESE
  • BETA-MANNANAN
  • ALPHA-MANNOSIDASE
  • METHIONINE
  • MUCILAGE
  • MUCIN
  • MUUROLENE
  • NIACIN
  • OLEIC-ACID
  • ORIENTIN-ARABINOSIDE
  • PHENYLALANINE
  • POTASSIUM
  • PROLINE
  • PROTEIN
  • PYRIDOXINE
  • QUERCETIN
  • RUTIN
  • SELENINE
  • SILICON
  • BETA-SITOSTEROL
  • SODIUM
  • STACHYOSE
  • SUCROSE
  • TIN
  • TRIGONELLOSIDES
  • TRILLIN
  • TRYPTOPHAN
  • VERBASCOSE
  • XYLOSE
  • ZINC
  • SAPONIN
  • STEARIC-ACID
  • THREONINE
  • 3,4,7-TRIMETHYLCOUMARIN
  • COUMARIN
  • DIHYDROBENZOFURAN
  • D-MANNOSE
  • 4-METHYL-7-ACETOXYCOUMARIN
  • VALINE
  • YAMOGENIN-TETROSIDES
  • ARABINOSE
  • BIOTIN
  • CARBOHYDRATES
  • CHROMIUM
  • P-COUMARIC-ACID
  • DIGALACTOSYLMYOINOSITOL
  • ENDO-BETA-MANNANASE
  • FAT
  • FOLIC-ACID
  • GALACTOMANNAN
  • GLUTAMIC-ACID
  • HISTIDINE
  • IRON
  • KAEMPFEROL
  • MAGNESIUM
  • MYO-INOSITOL
  • ORIENTIN
  • PHOSPHORUS
  • PROTOPECTIN
  • RAFFINOSE
  • SELENIUM
  • THIAMIN
  • TRIGOFORIN
  • TYROSINE
  • VITEXIN-7-GLUCOSIDE
  • SERINE
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDES
  • WATER
  • SULFUR
  • XANTHOPHYLL
  • LIGNIN
  • ALANINE
  • ISOLEUCINE
  • RIBOFLAVIN
  • CAMPESTEROL
  • 25-(S)-DIOSGENIN
  • 7-ACETOXY-4-METHYLCOUMARIN
  • CHOLESTEROL
  • NEODIOSGENIN
  • URIDINE-DIPHOSPHOGALACOSE-4-EPIMERASE
  • FENUGRIN-A
  • FENUGRIN-B
  • FENUGRIN-C
  • FENUGRIN-D
  • FIXED-OIL
  • FORMONONETIN
  • FRUCTOSE
  • FUROST-5-ENE-3-BETA-22-26-TRIOL
  • GITOGENIN
  • FENUGREEK-INHIBITOR-TFI-A-8
  • FENUGREEK-INHIBITOR-TFI-B-2
  • FENUGREEK-INHIBITOR-TFN-N-2
  • 3',4',7-TRIHYDROXYFLAVONE
  • 4',7-DIHYDROXYFLAVONE
  • 4-HYDROXYISOLEUCINE
  • GRAECUNIN-A
  • GRAECUNIN-B
  • GRAECUNIN-C
  • GRAECUNIN-D
  • GRAECUNIN-E
  • GRAECUNIN-F
  • GRAECUNIN-H-1
  • GRAECUNIN-H-2
  • GRAECUNIN-H-3
  • GRAECUNIN-I
  • GRAECUNIN-J
  • GRAECUNIN-L
  • GRAECUNIN-M
  • GRAECUNIN-N
  • ISOORIENTIN
  • JAMOGENIN
  • KAEMPFEROL-3,7-DIGLUCOSIDE
  • KAEMPFEROL-3-7-DIGLYCOSIDE
  • LEUCINE
  • LINOLEIC-ACID
  • NEOGITOGENIN
  • NICOTINAMIDE
  • NICOTINIC-ACID
  • OCTADECATRIENOIC-ACID
  • OXALIC-ACID
  • PALMITIC-ACID
  • PALMITOLEIC-ACID
  • PEROXIDASE
  • PHENYLALANINE-AMMONIA-LYASE
  • PHOSPHATASE
  • PHYTASE
  • PHYTIC-ACID
  • PYRAZINE
  • TYROSINE-AMMONIA-LYASE
  • 3-BETA-HYDROXY-PREGNA-5-16-DIEN-20-ONE
  • 2,5-DIMETHYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2,6-DIMETHYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2-ETHYL-3-METHYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2-ETHYL-5-METHYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2-ETHYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2-METHOXY-3-METHYLPYRAZINE
  • 2-METHOXY-3-SEC-BUTYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2-METHYL-THIO-3-ISO-PROPYL-PYRAZINE
  • 2-METHYL-PYRAZINE
  • 25-ALPHA-SPIROSTA-3,5-DIENE
  • ISOQUERCITRIN
  • NEOTIGOGENIN
  • NEOTIGONENIN
  • QUERCITRIN
  • SARSASAPOGENIN
  • SMILAGENIN
  • SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE
  • TIGOGENIN
  • TRIGONELLIC-ACID
  • TRIGONELLINE
  • 3'-METHOXY-QUERCETIN
  • QUERCETIN-3,7-DIGLUCOSIDE
  • 3-BETA-O-(L-RHAMNOSYL)-(1-4)-(L-RHAMNOSYL)-(GLUCOSYL)-SPIROST-5-EN-3-BETA-OL
  • (25-R)-SPIROSTA-3-5-DIENE
  • SPIROSTA-3-5-DIENE
  • 25-BETA-SPIROSTA-3-5-DIENE
  • SPIROSTAN-3-5-DIENE
  • 25(S)-TIGOGENIN
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDE-A
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDE-B
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDE-C
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDE-D
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDE-F
  • TRIGOFOENOSIDE-G
  • TRIGONELLA-FOENUM-GRACEUM-GALACTOMANNAN
  • TRIGONELLA-FOENUM-GRACEUM-FLAVONE-GLYCOSIDE
  • TRIGONELLA-GALACTOMANNAN
  • TRIGONELLA-GLYCOSIDE-B
  • ISOVITEXIN
  • VICENIN-1
  • VICENIN-2
  • VITAMIN-K
  • VITEXIN
  • VITEXIN-2'-O-P-COUMARATE
  • VITEXIN-7-O-BETA-D-GLUCOSIDE
  • YAMOGENIN
  • TRIGONELLOSIDE-C
  • TRYPSIN-INHIBITOR-TFI-A-8
  • TRYPSIN-INHIBITOR-TFI-N-2
  • ALKALOIDS
  • FIBER(CRUDE)
  • FIBER(DIETARY)
  • POLYSACCHARIDES
  • SAPONINS
  • STARCH
  • SUGARS
  • THIAMINE
  • FENUGRIN-E
  • GRAECUNIN-G
  • GRAECUNIN-H-4
  • GRAECUNIN-K
  • GRIGONELLOSIDE
  • KAEMPFEROL-3-GLYCOSIDE
  • LINOLENIC-ACID
  • NEO-BETA-CAROTENE
  • STIGMASTEROL
  • YUCCAGENIN
  • YAMOGENIN-3,26-BIGLYCOSIDE
  • 5-METHYL-DELTA-CAPROLACTONE
  • APIGENIN
  • CATECHOLS
  • EPISARSASAPOGENIN
  • EPISMILAGENIN
  • FLAVONOLS
  • GENISTEIN
  • GRAECUNIN-H...
  • HEXADECANE
  • ISOORIENTIN-ARABINOSIDE
  • L-HISTIDINE
  • L-ARGININE
  • PHENOLS
  • PHYTATE
  • PHYTOSTEROLS
  • SALICYLATES
  • SAPONARETIN
  • SOTOLONE
  • UNDECANE
  • VITEXIN-CINNAMATE
  • 24-XI-ETHYL-CHOLEST-5-EN-3-BETA-OL
  • EO
  • FOENUGRAECIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Trigonella foenum-graecum
Trigonella foenum-graecum · Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

show claim source mapping
  • identity · DH-SRC-0030
  • documented_uses · DH-SRC-0030
  • compounds · DH-SRC-0030
  • taxonomy · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
  • common_names · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
  • countries · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
  • wfo_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0003 · source ↗
  • cultural_records · DH-SRC-0030 · source ↗
  • powo_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0001 · source ↗
  • wcvp_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0002 · source ↗

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

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