Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs – Hu Lu Ba (Semen Trigonellae Foeni-graeci)

Saturday, 9 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Hu Lu Ba (Semen Trigonellae Foeni-graeci)

Hu Lu Ba is also known as Common Fenugreek seed. The bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM to lower blood sugar, treat Impotence, nerurasthenia, lack of milk after child birth, etc., as itb warms Kidney-Yang, disperses Cold and Dampness, etc., by enhancing the functions of kidney and liver channels.
Ingredients
1. Trigonelline
2. Diosgenin-β-D-glucoside
3. Vitexin
4. Isovitexin, saponaretin
5. Isoorientin
6. Vitexin-7-glucoside
7. Gitogenin
8. Neogitogenin
9. Diosgenin
10 Yamogenin
11. Tigogenin
12. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Antidiabetic and Neuroprotective Effects
inthe investigation of examine the antidiabetic and neuroprotective role of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder (TSP) in hyperglycemiainduced alterations in blood glucose, insulin levels and activities of membrane linked enzymes (Na+K+ATPase, Ca2+ATPase), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase), calcium (Ca2+) levels, lipid peroxidation, membrane fluidity and neurolipofuscin accumulation in the diabetic rat brain, showed that TSP treatment can reverse the hyperglycemia induced changes to normal levels in diabetic rat brain. TSP administration amended effect of hyperglycemia on alterations in lipid peroxidation, restoring membrane fluidity, activities of membrane bound and antioxidant enzymes, thereby ameliorating the diabetic complications, according to “Antidiabetic and Neuroprotective Effects of Trigonella Foenum-graecum Seed Powder in Diabetic Rat Brain” by Kumar P, Kale RK, McLean P, Baquer NZ.(1)
2. Anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenesis
In the investigation of Fenugreek seed ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) beneficial effects, by testing the inhibitory activities of a methanol (MeOH) extract of fenugreek seed on the production of inflammatory cytokines and melanin synthesis in cultured cell lines in vitro, found that three active constituents from fenugreek seed extracts as steroidal saponins 26- O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25 R)-furost-5(6)-en-3 β,22 β,26-triol-3- O-α-L-rhamno-pyranosyl-(1” → 2′)-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1''' → 6')- O]-β-D-glucopyranoside 1, minutoside B 2, and pseudoprotodioscin 3. Compounds 1 and 2 strongly suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines, whereas 3 showed a weaker suppressing effect. Melanogenesis in B16F1 cells was significantly suppressed by 1 and 3, and weakly suppressed by 2. All three compounds showed moderate cytotoxicities, according to “Anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic steroidal saponin glycosides from Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds” by Kawabata T, Cui MY, Hasegawa T, Takano F, Ohta T.(2)
3. Metabolic disorders
In the study of the high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFS; lard 50%kcal, sucrose 25%kcal) as a control (Ctrl group) or the HFS containing 0.25% (VL group), 1.25% (L group), 2.50% (M group), 5.00% (H group) or 12.30% (VH group) fenugreek based on the modified version of the AIN-93G purified diet, found that fenugreek inhibited lipid accumulation in the liver by increasing the lipid excretion in the feces. The effective, safe and tolerable dose of fenugreek was found to be around 2.50% (w/w), according to “Dose-dependent effects, safety and tolerability of fenugreek in diet-induced metabolic disorders in rats” by Muraki E, Hayashi Y, Chiba H, Tsunoda N, Kasono K.(3)
4. Arthritis
In the investigation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of mucilage from fenugreek in adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, indicated that Fenugreek mucilage exhibited maximum percentage of edema inhibition at a dose of 75 mg/kg on 21st day of adjuvant arthritis. The effect was higher than that of standard drug indomethacin. The activities of cyclooxygenase-2 and myeloperoxidase and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were decreased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, vitamins C and reduced glutathione level were increased on treatment with fenugreek mucilage, according to “Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of mucilage of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) on adjuvant induced arthritic rats” by Sindhu G, Ratheesh M, Shyni GL, Nambisan B, Helen A.(4)
5. Glycemia and lipidemia
Fenugreek’s hypoglycemic effect has been especially documented in humans and animals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, this dietary fiber has potential for widespread use in the food industry because its galactomannan composition has emulsifying and stabilizing properties. Flour supplemented with 8%-10% fenugreek dietary fiber has been used in the production of baked goods such as bread, pizza, muffins, and cakes, according to “The potential of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) as a functional food and nutraceutical and its effects on glycemia and lipidemia” by Roberts KT.(5)
6. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of heat and damp heat as a result of yin deficiency
2. Hu Lu Ba may interfere with the absorption of other medicine and interact with blood thinning medicine.
3. Do not take the herb if you are taking the blood sugar lowering medicine
4. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting first with the related field specialist
5. Etc.