11.5.3 Anti-inflammatory Potential
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes multiple
pathophysiological consequences like swelling of joints, cartilage and bone
demolition, synovial hyperplasia, vasculogenesis. This disease causes rise in
inflammatory enzymes like cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, myeloperoxidase and
induce free radical formation along with low antioxidant level (Tristano 2009;
Hoozemans and O’Banion 2005). Sindhu et al. evaluated antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory potential of fenugreek mucilage in adjuvant induced arthritis in
rats. Fenugreek mucilage was fed orally to the rats and 73.65% edema inhibition
observed with 75 mg/kg mucilage dose. Fenugreek seed mucilage effectively
reduced the activities of inflammatory enzymes and upregulated the activities of
antioxidant enzymes, vitamin C and reduced glutathione (Sindhu et al. 2012).
Liu et al. investigated lipid peroxidation (LPO) and cyclooxygenase
(COX) enzyme inhibitory activity of fenugreek seed extract in different mediums
such as water, hexane, methanolic and ethyl acetate by MTT, COX-1, COX-2, LPO
enzyme inhibitory assays. These extracts at 250 lg/mL concentration was able to
inhibit LPO, COX-1 and COX-2 (Liu et al. 2012). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) are the most preferred drugs to address inflammatory diseases but
NSAIDs are associated with certain drawbacks like gastrointestinal ulcerogenicity
and renal morbidity (Pincus et al. 1992). Therefore, long-term use of these conventional drugs need a safe alternative like fenugreek seed mucilage as it suppresses
inflammatory enzymes activity and upregulate the antioxidants. Fenugreek mucilage based nano-molecules can be engineered to enhance its anti-inflammatory
properties and further studies can be performed to gain more insight for molecular
mechanism behind its anti-inflammatory properties.
11.5.4 Anticancer Potential
Free radicals generated by inflammatory cells, i.e. neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, could be the pathogenic factor for tumour formation in some cases (Rosin
et al. 1994). Earlier studies demonstrated, fenugreek seed extract at different concentrations (10–15 µg/mL) are able to inhibit the growth of breast, pancreatic and
prostate cancer cell lines but not the healthy cells for 72 h. It was also observed that
the crude fenugreek seed extract was able to differentiate between normal and
cancerous cells; however, its pure agents like diosgenin and sulforaphane did not
differentiate in malignant and normal cells (Shabbeer et al. 2009). In another report, it
was informed that not only fenugreek seed extract but also bioactive components, i.e.
diosgenin and trigonelline act as anticancer agents (Raju and Rao 2012). From the
above-mentioned reports it was observed that there is still a conflict about the particular therapeutic agent of fenugreek seed mucilage. So there is significant demand
to evaluate the anticancer potential of fenugreek seed mucilage and its components.
400
P. Mishra et al.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes multiple
pathophysiological consequences like swelling of joints, cartilage and bone
demolition, synovial hyperplasia, vasculogenesis. This disease causes rise in
inflammatory enzymes like cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, myeloperoxidase and
induce free radical formation along with low antioxidant level (Tristano 2009;
Hoozemans and O’Banion 2005). Sindhu et al. evaluated antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory potential of fenugreek mucilage in adjuvant induced arthritis in
rats. Fenugreek mucilage was fed orally to the rats and 73.65% edema inhibition
observed with 75 mg/kg mucilage dose. Fenugreek seed mucilage effectively
reduced the activities of inflammatory enzymes and upregulated the activities of
antioxidant enzymes, vitamin C and reduced glutathione (Sindhu et al. 2012).
Liu et al. investigated lipid peroxidation (LPO) and cyclooxygenase
(COX) enzyme inhibitory activity of fenugreek seed extract in different mediums
such as water, hexane, methanolic and ethyl acetate by MTT, COX-1, COX-2, LPO
enzyme inhibitory assays. These extracts at 250 lg/mL concentration was able to
inhibit LPO, COX-1 and COX-2 (Liu et al. 2012). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) are the most preferred drugs to address inflammatory diseases but
NSAIDs are associated with certain drawbacks like gastrointestinal ulcerogenicity
and renal morbidity (Pincus et al. 1992). Therefore, long-term use of these conventional drugs need a safe alternative like fenugreek seed mucilage as it suppresses
inflammatory enzymes activity and upregulate the antioxidants. Fenugreek mucilage based nano-molecules can be engineered to enhance its anti-inflammatory
properties and further studies can be performed to gain more insight for molecular
mechanism behind its anti-inflammatory properties.
11.5.4 Anticancer Potential
Free radicals generated by inflammatory cells, i.e. neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, could be the pathogenic factor for tumour formation in some cases (Rosin
et al. 1994). Earlier studies demonstrated, fenugreek seed extract at different concentrations (10–15 µg/mL) are able to inhibit the growth of breast, pancreatic and
prostate cancer cell lines but not the healthy cells for 72 h. It was also observed that
the crude fenugreek seed extract was able to differentiate between normal and
cancerous cells; however, its pure agents like diosgenin and sulforaphane did not
differentiate in malignant and normal cells (Shabbeer et al. 2009). In another report, it
was informed that not only fenugreek seed extract but also bioactive components, i.e.
diosgenin and trigonelline act as anticancer agents (Raju and Rao 2012). From the
above-mentioned reports it was observed that there is still a conflict about the particular therapeutic agent of fenugreek seed mucilage. So there is significant demand
to evaluate the anticancer potential of fenugreek seed mucilage and its components.
400
P. Mishra et al.