studies reported the defensive role of fenugreek seed against the diabetic
nephropathy. Fenugreek seed extract was able to reduce the thickening of
glomerular base membrane by inhibiting the accumulation of oxidized DNA in the
kidney (Xue et al. 2011). Fenugreek seed powder proved as an effective therapeutic
agent to treat both type I and type II diabetes. But fenugreek seed powder based
prediabetes treatment is still in its infancy. More studies involving animal models
and human volunteers are required to evaluate the efficiency of fenugreek seed
powder as a bioactive agent to treat prediabetes.
11.5.2 Hypolipidemic Potential and Role in Fat
Accumulation
Vijayakumar et al. observed hypolipidemic potential of fenugreek seed extract in
3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells by quantifying fat accumulation by western blot analysis
of lipogenic and adipogenic factors. Fenugreek seed extract decreased the fat
accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells by downregulating adipogenic factors like peroxisome proliferators activated-receptors-c (PPAR-c), sterol regulatory elementbinding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CAAT element-binding proteins-a (c/EBP-a) further, cellular triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations declined in HepG2 cells
via reduced expression of (SREBP-1) at mRNA and protein level. Seed extract of
fenugreek was also able to upregulate low density lipo-protein receptor (LDLR)
expression resulting enhanced LDL uptake (Vijayakumar et al. 2010).
Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin (component of fenugreek seed powder) at
different concentrations (5–10 mmol/l) inhibit triglyceride accumulation in HepG2
cell lines and expression of lipogenic genes. It inhibited fat accumulation by disrupting the transactivation of liver-X-receptor-alpha (LXR-a), a prime regulator of
cholesterol homeostasis in hepatocytes (Uemura et al. 2011).
Kumar et al. fed aqueous extract of fenugreek seed to female Wistar rats for
28 days and it was found to be anti-hyperlipidemic agent as it was able to reduce
white adipose tissue weight, body mass index, weight gain, leptin, lipids, serum
insulin, blood glucose, lipase, and apolipoprotein-B levels (Kumar et al. 2014).
Apart from that rise in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione,
catalase) level were noticed and serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine
amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase levels were upregulated due to
feeding of trigonella seed extract. Restored activity of liver and uterine WAT
lipogenic enzymes to normal level suggests fenugreek seed extract could be used as
a bioactive agent to inhibit fat accumulation. Clinical studies can be designed to
observe therapeutic nature of diosgenin to treat hyperlipidemia, and diosgenin
based drugs can be formulated to address these clinical consequences.
11 Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek Gum
399
nephropathy. Fenugreek seed extract was able to reduce the thickening of
glomerular base membrane by inhibiting the accumulation of oxidized DNA in the
kidney (Xue et al. 2011). Fenugreek seed powder proved as an effective therapeutic
agent to treat both type I and type II diabetes. But fenugreek seed powder based
prediabetes treatment is still in its infancy. More studies involving animal models
and human volunteers are required to evaluate the efficiency of fenugreek seed
powder as a bioactive agent to treat prediabetes.
11.5.2 Hypolipidemic Potential and Role in Fat
Accumulation
Vijayakumar et al. observed hypolipidemic potential of fenugreek seed extract in
3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells by quantifying fat accumulation by western blot analysis
of lipogenic and adipogenic factors. Fenugreek seed extract decreased the fat
accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells by downregulating adipogenic factors like peroxisome proliferators activated-receptors-c (PPAR-c), sterol regulatory elementbinding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CAAT element-binding proteins-a (c/EBP-a) further, cellular triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations declined in HepG2 cells
via reduced expression of (SREBP-1) at mRNA and protein level. Seed extract of
fenugreek was also able to upregulate low density lipo-protein receptor (LDLR)
expression resulting enhanced LDL uptake (Vijayakumar et al. 2010).
Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin (component of fenugreek seed powder) at
different concentrations (5–10 mmol/l) inhibit triglyceride accumulation in HepG2
cell lines and expression of lipogenic genes. It inhibited fat accumulation by disrupting the transactivation of liver-X-receptor-alpha (LXR-a), a prime regulator of
cholesterol homeostasis in hepatocytes (Uemura et al. 2011).
Kumar et al. fed aqueous extract of fenugreek seed to female Wistar rats for
28 days and it was found to be anti-hyperlipidemic agent as it was able to reduce
white adipose tissue weight, body mass index, weight gain, leptin, lipids, serum
insulin, blood glucose, lipase, and apolipoprotein-B levels (Kumar et al. 2014).
Apart from that rise in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione,
catalase) level were noticed and serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine
amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase levels were upregulated due to
feeding of trigonella seed extract. Restored activity of liver and uterine WAT
lipogenic enzymes to normal level suggests fenugreek seed extract could be used as
a bioactive agent to inhibit fat accumulation. Clinical studies can be designed to
observe therapeutic nature of diosgenin to treat hyperlipidemia, and diosgenin
based drugs can be formulated to address these clinical consequences.
11 Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek Gum
399