Jan–Mar 2022 • Vol LXI • No. 3 3 Health From Herbs Sanskrit name Medhika English name Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum Trigonella foenum-graecum is an annual, leguminous herb cultivated in warm temperate and tropical regions. It is rich in saponins, flavonoids, and polyphenols. The herb possesses antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antitumor, antiobesity, and antioxidant properties.1,2 A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of T foenum-graecum in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (aged 30–65 y; both sexes). The control group was advised dietary modification, while the treatment group was advised dietary modification along with T foenum-graecum seed powder (10 g), BID, for 2 months. At the end of 2 months, a gradual decrease in the blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels was noted in the treatment group, thereby demonstrating the hypoglycemic property of T foenum-graecum.2 A 28-day study evaluated the lipid-inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract of T foenum-graecum seeds. Female Wistar rats were fed a normal pellet diet (control group) or a high-fat diet (HFD; treatment groups). Two of the HFD groups were given T foenum-graecum extract (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight), orally, and 1 HFD group was treated with orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight), orally. The HFD groups treated with the T foenum-graecum extract showed significant reduction in anthropometric, hematologic, and lipid profile measurements; improvement in the levels of hepatic and cardiac function biomarkers; and normalization of antioxidant and lipogenic enzyme activities. Thus, these results show that the aqueous extract of T foenum-graecum seeds possesses potent inhibitory activity on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia.3 References 1. Plants For A Future. Trigonella foenum-graecum - L. https://pfaf.org/. Accessed December 22, 2021. 2. Rehman MH, et al. Food Sci Technol. 2021;41(2):349–354. 3. Kumar P, et al. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:606021. Withania somnifera Withania somnifera is an evergreen, perennial shrub that grows in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Africa and the Mediterranean regions of Europe. W somnifera has phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, steroidal lactones, withaferin A, and sitoindosides. It possesses anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, hypotensive, and antitumor properties.1,2 An experimental study evaluated the immunomodulatory property of W somnifera in Ehrlich ascites tumor–bearing male Bagg albino mice. Mice in the treatment group were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1 mL of 6 × 106 viable tumor cells, 2 hours before the treatment. A dry extract of W somnifera at doses of 20, 50, or 100 mg/kg was administered for 10 consecutive days to mice in the control and treatment groups. Upon evaluation of the femoral marrow and spleen cells, an increase in cytokine production and myelopoiesis and modulation of spleen colony formation were noted in the treatment group, thus, proving the immunomodulatory potential of W somnifera.2 In another study, the role of W somnifera leaves in ameliorating obesity-associated anxiety and neuroinflammation was demonstrated in Wistar albino female rats. The rats were randomized into low-fat diet (LFD) and high-fat diet (HFD) groups, and a subgroup of rats from the LFD and HFD groups was supplemented with W somnifera leaves (1 mg/g body weight) and was put on a 12-week dietary regimen. After detailed evaluations, the results showed that W somnifera–treated rats exhibited reduced anxiety and suppressed expression of inflammatory markers and leptin levels, thus, validating the anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory potential of W somnifera.3 References 1. Plants For A Future. Withania somnifera - (L.) Dunal. https://pfaf.org/. Accessed December 23, 2021. 2. de Melo AL, et al. J Anal Pharm Res. 2021;10(2):82–91. 3. Kaur T, Kaur G. J Neuroinflammation. 2017;14(1):201. Sanskrit name Ashvagandha English name Winter Cherry
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