various enzymes such as gluconeogenic, lipogenic and glycolytic were observed in
both liver and kidney of diabetic rats. However, treated animals showed reduced
fasting blood glucose level as well as eradication of the abnormalities associated
with activities of enzymes (Raju et al. 2001).
Zia et al. 2001 examined hypoglycemic effect of aqueous and methanolic seed
extract of fenugreek in normal mice. More prominent blood glucose lowering effect
was observed in the case of aqueous extract as compared to methanolic extract. This
experiment revealed that the hypoglycemic agent of fenugreek seed extract is polar
in nature (Zia et al. 2001). In another study, it was shown that fenugreek seed
mucilage is able to lower fasting blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced
diabetic rats (Kumar et al. 2005).
Liver pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and
glucose transporter (GLUT 4) play a pivotal role in glucose homeostasis and
abnormal expression of these proteins was noticed in diabetes (Board et al. 1990;
Mathupala et al. 1997). Mohammad et al. 2006 explored the ability of fenugreek
seed powder in recovering the altered expression of PK, PEPCK, GLUT 4 (in
skeletal muscle), and lowering the blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetes
in rats. Eidi et al. noticed that ethanolic extract of fenugreek seeds was able to lower
serum glucose, total cholesterol, urea, uric acid, triacylglycerol, aspartate amino
transferase, alanine amino transferase, and enhanced serum insulin level when
orally administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (Eidi et al. 2007).
Srichamroen et al. showed that galactomannan is able to reduce the intestinal
glucose uptake in genetically determined lean and obese rats and concluded that an
increase in viscosity with rise in galactomannan could be the possible reason for
declining uptake of glucose (Srichamroen et al. 2009).
Previous studies showed that an increase in oxidative stress during hyperglycemia is a primary reason behind the cardiovascular mortality in diabetic
patients. Upregulation of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and receptor AT 1
of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is the reason behind cardiovascular disease
(Murça et al. 2012). ACE induce gene expression of extracellular matrix
(ECM) components, growth factors and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Due to
increment in ECM components (collagen, fibronectin) cardiac stiffness enhances
and diastolic dysfunction arises (Ban and Twigg 2008; McKarns and Schwartz
2005). Dietary fenugreek seeds and onion powder have been used as therapeutic
agents to treat the cardiovascular damage caused due to diabetes (Pradeep and
Srinivasan 2018). It was observed that fenugreek seed and onion powder were able
to block renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by downregulation of ECM components
in diabetic rats. These observations provided substantial evidences for fenugreek
seed powder as a potential antidiabetic agent and offers advantages over marketed
drugs in terms of reduced side effects.
Combination of fenugreek seed powder and sodium orthovanadate is used to
treat diabetes and long-term difficulties associated with the diabetes like structural
abnormalities in sciatic nerves. It was shown that the combination (sodium orthovanadate + fenugreek seed powder) was able to restore the altered glucose level and
eradicated structural abnormalities in peripheral nerves (Preet et al. 2005). Several
398
P. Mishra et al.
both liver and kidney of diabetic rats. However, treated animals showed reduced
fasting blood glucose level as well as eradication of the abnormalities associated
with activities of enzymes (Raju et al. 2001).
Zia et al. 2001 examined hypoglycemic effect of aqueous and methanolic seed
extract of fenugreek in normal mice. More prominent blood glucose lowering effect
was observed in the case of aqueous extract as compared to methanolic extract. This
experiment revealed that the hypoglycemic agent of fenugreek seed extract is polar
in nature (Zia et al. 2001). In another study, it was shown that fenugreek seed
mucilage is able to lower fasting blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced
diabetic rats (Kumar et al. 2005).
Liver pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and
glucose transporter (GLUT 4) play a pivotal role in glucose homeostasis and
abnormal expression of these proteins was noticed in diabetes (Board et al. 1990;
Mathupala et al. 1997). Mohammad et al. 2006 explored the ability of fenugreek
seed powder in recovering the altered expression of PK, PEPCK, GLUT 4 (in
skeletal muscle), and lowering the blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetes
in rats. Eidi et al. noticed that ethanolic extract of fenugreek seeds was able to lower
serum glucose, total cholesterol, urea, uric acid, triacylglycerol, aspartate amino
transferase, alanine amino transferase, and enhanced serum insulin level when
orally administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (Eidi et al. 2007).
Srichamroen et al. showed that galactomannan is able to reduce the intestinal
glucose uptake in genetically determined lean and obese rats and concluded that an
increase in viscosity with rise in galactomannan could be the possible reason for
declining uptake of glucose (Srichamroen et al. 2009).
Previous studies showed that an increase in oxidative stress during hyperglycemia is a primary reason behind the cardiovascular mortality in diabetic
patients. Upregulation of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and receptor AT 1
of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is the reason behind cardiovascular disease
(Murça et al. 2012). ACE induce gene expression of extracellular matrix
(ECM) components, growth factors and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Due to
increment in ECM components (collagen, fibronectin) cardiac stiffness enhances
and diastolic dysfunction arises (Ban and Twigg 2008; McKarns and Schwartz
2005). Dietary fenugreek seeds and onion powder have been used as therapeutic
agents to treat the cardiovascular damage caused due to diabetes (Pradeep and
Srinivasan 2018). It was observed that fenugreek seed and onion powder were able
to block renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by downregulation of ECM components
in diabetic rats. These observations provided substantial evidences for fenugreek
seed powder as a potential antidiabetic agent and offers advantages over marketed
drugs in terms of reduced side effects.
Combination of fenugreek seed powder and sodium orthovanadate is used to
treat diabetes and long-term difficulties associated with the diabetes like structural
abnormalities in sciatic nerves. It was shown that the combination (sodium orthovanadate + fenugreek seed powder) was able to restore the altered glucose level and
eradicated structural abnormalities in peripheral nerves (Preet et al. 2005). Several
398
P. Mishra et al.