Fenugreek Trigonella Foenum-Graecum.Fenugreek Seed Extracts.

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Legends, Myths and Stories of Fenugreek.

Fenugreek Seed Extracts INCI Name TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRAECUM EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No 283-415-1 CAS 84625-40-1 photo picture image Fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal plants, dating back to the ancient Egyptians and Hippocrates. The botanical name (foenum-graecum) means "Greek hay."

 In ancient Egypt, fenugreek was used to ease childbirth and to increase milk flow. Today, it is still taken by Egyptian women for menstrual pain and as hilba tea to ease stomach problems of tourists.

 Introduced into the southern provinces of China, the beans were in use as a medicine since the time of the Tang dynasty. Usually parched or boiled, and given with aloes, anise-seed and other substances as a tonic.

 Best known in India and among the people around the Mediterranean Sea, the seeds have a flavor somewhat like maple sugar and an extract is used to make artificial maple flavor. Fenugreek is an ingredient in chutneys and used in some curry blends. The roasted seeds are used as an adulterant and as a coffee substitute.

 Burkill stated, "The seeds, after roasting, are eaten in Egypt, and in ancient Egypt were regarded as medicinal and were used in religious rites. They contain mucilage, sugars, an alkaloid--trigonellin, which is not poisonous--cholin and a scented compound."

 A study in India involving insulin-dependent diabetics on low doses of insulin, pulverized fenugreek seeds were shown to reduce blood sugar and other harmful fats. The authors of the study suggest adding fenugreek seeds to the diets of diabetics.

 Fenugreek (Huluba) origins from west asia and north africa. cultivated at middle east since year 700 century B.C.,spread to Pakistan and India,etc,now cultivated largely at west China,South Europe,North Africa and South Asia.Its is said that huluba taken into China at the beggining of XiHan Dynasty by General Zhang Qian and cultivated as spice.NingXia province is traditional region of Huluba of China,according to registration of XuanDe NingXia Zhi, Huluba cultivated widely at Ningxia as a herb at the beginning of Ming Dynasty, a history over than 500 years.

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citations1.Fenugreek Trigonella Foenum-Graecum.Fenugreek Seed Extracts.

last edit date:12th,May.2009.