Fenugreek a multipurpose crop: Potentialities and improvements

Fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal plants with exceptional medicinal and nutritional profile. Fenugreek seeds contain a substantial amount of fiber, phospholipids, glycolipids, oleic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, choline, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, nicotinic acid, niacin, and many other functional elements. It may grow well under diverse and a wide range of conditions; it is moderately tolerant to drought and salinity, and can even be grown on marginal lands in profitable way. Owing to these characteristics and heavy metal remediation potential, fenugreek may well fit several cropping systems. In addition to its medicinal uses, it may serve as an excellent off-season fodder and animal food supplement. However, efforts should be initiated to develop strategies for improving its biomass production; genetic diversity among different accessions may be mapped, breeding and crop improvement programs may be initiated to improve the biomass and nutritional and functional elements. This review highlights the morphology, adaptability, nutritional constituents and associated functionality and medicinal significance of fenugreek; its ethno-historical uses, pharmacological assumptions have also been discussed. Researchable areas are also indicated to improve its production and adaptability.     

Assessment of Genetic Diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonella foenum-graecum</Emphasis> Based on Nuclear Ribosomal DNA,Internal Transcribed Spacer and RAPD Analysis

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is receiving global attention due to rare medicinal properties of significance to human health. Gene banks possess scanty germplasm and very little background information regarding its genetic variability that has hampered its improvement. We investigated the extent of variability among 17 Indian varieties of fenugreek using phenotypic and genetic markers. Multilocus genotyping by ten random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers detected an average of intraspecific variations amounting to 64.7% polymorphism in banding patterns. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that a greater proportion of total genetic variation exists within population (91%) rather than among populations. Higher values of Nei’s gene diversity (h) and Shannon Information Index (i) and genetic distance analysis validate higher genetic diversity among Indian fenugreek varieties. SNPs at 14 sites of rDNA region revealed further lineages of distinct varieties with main RAPD clusters. The representative sequences of each subgroup and all distinct varieties have been submitted to NCBI database and assigned Gen Accession numbers HM 176640–176649. The measures of relative genetic distances among varieties of fenugreek did not completely correlate with the geographical distances of places of their development. The homogeneous phenotypic markers proved insufficient in exhibiting genetic divergence among fenugreek varieties studied. Eventually, the knowledge of their genetic relationships, DNA bar coding and phylogenies might contribute for the designing of intraspecific crosses between cultivars of this fenugreek collection with potential interest in seed spices breeding programme.     

Trigoxazonane, a monosubstituted trioxazonane from Trigonella foenum-graecum root exudate, inhibits Orobanche crenata seed germination

Orobanche crenata is a major threat to grain legume production. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual legume that has been shown to effectively reduce O. crenata infection when intercropped with grain legumes. In this paper, we point that this can be attributed to allelopathy, through inhibition of the germination of O. crenata by fenugreek root exudates. The main inhibitory metabolite was isolated and characterized. Allelopathy was demonstrated in different bioassays, by inhibition of O. crenata seeds germination both by growing fenugreek and pea plants together (intercropped), and by application of fenugreek root exudates. Fenugreek root exudates were extracted with organic solvent and fractionated giving several fractions, two of which showed moderate (27%) and strong (54%) inhibition of O. crenata seed germination, respectively. The most active metabolite is a new monosubstituted trioxazonane, characterized by spectroscopic methods as the 2-butyl-[1,4,7,2]trioxazonane and named trigoxazonane.     

葫芦巴籽深加工工艺的研究

葫芦巴籽由种皮、胚乳和胚组成。采用物理方法将胚乳层中的多糖剥离纯化,残渣分别用溶剂提取葫芦巴油、用含有活性物水溶液提取薯芋皂甙,最后得到蛋白粉。同时对提取物进行分析检测,结果显示我们提出的深加工工艺具有产业化前景。     

Analysis of genetic diversity among medicinal therapist <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonella foenum</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">graecum</Emphasis> L. genotypes through RAPD and SSR markers

Trigonella is recognized as a medicinal therapist throughout the globe due to its multifaceted rare medicinal properties. It is indigenous from Iran to Northern India but has gained global acceptance towards cultivation and consumption for its yellow-to-amber colored seed which substantially contributes to food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industry. Genetic diversity serves as an excellent tool for developing improved crop varieties with breeder preferred traits. Unfortunately, very little information available on variability existing in commercial Trigonella genotypes considerably impedes the crop improvement. In this study, ninety Trigonella genotypes belonging to most productive North Indian states were subjected to multilocus genotyping using RAPD (49) and SSR (13) primers and detected an average of 55.60 and 50.16% polymorphism, respectively. The percentage polymorphism range (RAPD, 16.7–90.90; SSR, 33.30–66.66) average band informativeness (RAPD, 0.182–0.85; SSR, 0.21–0.91) and resolving power (RAPD, 0.95–9.984; SSR, 1.68–7.28) obtained revealed the wide range of diversity prevailing among these genotypes. Hierarchical clustering of genotypes in nine different clusters showed Trigonella’s genetic variability has wide genetic distribution across different agro-climatic zones. No consistency was observed while grouping Trigonella varieties based on eco-geographical region. Eventually, knowledge of these genetic differences significantly contributes in designing intra-specific crosses with potential interest to spice breeding programs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic diversity using SSR molecular markers in Trigonella foenum-graecum L.     

In Vitro Effect of Fenugreek Extracts on Intestinal Sodium-dependent Glucose Uptake and Hepatic Glycogen Phosphorylase A

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed) is a food with traditional medicinal use in diabetes. Beneficial effects have been demonstrated in diabetic animals and both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. Effects of a lipid extract A, crude ethanolic extract B, further sub-fractions of B (saponin-free C, saponin D and sapogenin E) and a gum fibre fraction F on intestinal sodium-dependent glucose uptake were investigated in vitro using rabbit intestinal brush border membrane vesicles. All fractions except A inhibited glucose-uptake at 0.33 and/or 3.3mg/mL (p < 0.001). Greatest inhibition was observed with fractions D and E. Diosgenin and trigonelline (compounds reported in fenugreek)also inhibited glucose-uptake (⁵⁰C values approximately 3mg/ ml, equivalent to 8mM and 19mM respectively) but did not account for the activity of the crude extracts. Fenugreek extracts had no effect on basal levels of glycogen phosphorylase a (HGPa) activity in rat hepatocyte suspensions. However fractions C and E caused a marginal but statistically significant inhibition (18.9 and 15.1% respectively, p < 0.05) of glucagon induction of this enzyme suggesting a glucagon-antagonist effect. Diosgenin (1.65mg/ml; 4mM) inhibited glucagon-induced HGPa activity by 20% (p < 0.05), and was more effective than trigonelline (non significant inhibition of 9.4% at 1.65mg/ml, 10mM).     

Biofortification of chromium in fenugreek seeds

BackgroundFenugreek and chromium are known to have anti-diabetic properties and this has been well demonstrated by multiple studies. Researches have been undertaken to study thebiofortification of chromium (Cr³⁺⁾ in fenugreek. Some of the researchers have studied the biofortification from the soil irrigated with tannery waste water or from soil amended by tannery-sludge, with a view of enhancing the anti-diabetic effect of fenugreek plants. The present research work was also undertaken to increase the chromium content of fenugreek seeds, but through direct treatment of chromium picolinate solution to fenugreek seeds.MethodsFenugreek seeds were procured and divided in four groups having three batches of 10 g seeds- treatment₁, treatment₂, control₁ and control₂. Control₁ group was kept raw and was given no treatment and control₂ group was germinated using double distilled water. Treatment₁ and treatment₂, on the other hand, were given treatment of 0.02 g and 0.04 g chromium picolinate solution, on first day and 0.01 g and 0.02 g chromium picolinate solution on second day, respectively. The germinated samples were then completely dried, powdered, digested with di-acid mixture and assayed using Inductively Coupled Plasma optical emission spectrometry method for chromium content. The treatment₁ sample was selected for further nutritional analysis along with control₁ and control₂ group to compare the nutritional composition of raw, germinated and chromium treated fenugreek seed flour. Fifteen sprouts from treatment₁ group (treatment_1A group) and fifteen sprouts from control₂ group (control₃ group) were sown in earthen pots for the analysis of chromium content in seeds of new plants.ResultsThe fenugreek seeds treated with two different concentrations of chromium picolinate viz. treatment₁ and treatment₂ group attained 55 and 80 times higher chromium content as compared to control₂ group, respectively. All the estimated minerals and bioactive compounds were significantly high (p ≤ 0.01) in germinated fenugreek seed flour and chromium treated fenugreek seed flour compared to raw fenugreek seed flour. Germinated fenugreek seed flour and chromium treated fenugreek seed flour were statistically comparable to each other in respect of all the parameters analysed. Hence, it was evident that enriching fenugreek seeds with chromium, did not affect the nutritional content of fenugreek seed by any mean. Also, there was no significant difference between the chromium content in seeds of control₃ group and T_1A group.ConclusionsTreatment of fenugreek seeds with chromium solution seems to be an efficient and safe method for increasing their chromium concentration as compared to application of chromium to the soil for biofortification with minimal to no chance of chromium accumulation and inheritance in next generation plants. However, there is a need of more research to see how reliable these observations would be when different chromium salts and/or varied chromium concentration are used.     

Characterization of potential allergens in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) using patient sera and MS-based proteomic analysis

BackgroundFenugreek is a legume plant used as an ingredient of curry spice. Incidents of IgE-mediated food allergy to fenugreek have been reported. Coincidence with allergy to peanut, a major food allergen, seems to be common suggesting a rather high rate of cross-reactivity.ObjectiveCharacterization of fenugreek allergens using patient sera and mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis.MethodsAllergenic fenugreek proteins were detected by immunoblotting, using sera from 13 patients with specific IgE to peanut and fenugreek. IgE-binding proteins were analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting and peptide sequencing.ResultsA fenugreek protein quintet in the range from 50 kDa to 66 kDa showed high IgE-affinity, the protein at 50 kDa reaching the strongest signals in all patients. Proteomic analyses allowed the classification of several fenugreek proteins to a number of allergen families. Fenugreek 7S-vicilin and 11S-legumin were partly sequenced and revealed considerable homologies to peanut Ara h 1 and Ara h 3, respectively. The presence of a fenugreek 2S albumin and pathogenesis-related (PR-10) plant pollen protein was assumed by database searching results.ConclusionIn this study, individual fenugreek proteins were characterised for the first time. Observed homologies to major peanut allergens provide a molecular explanation for clinical cross-reactivity.     

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) as an alternative forage for dairy cows

Fenugreek is a novel forage crop in Canada that is generating interest as an alternative to alfalfa for dairy cows. To evaluate the value of fenugreek haylage relative to alfalfa haylage, six, second lactation Holstein cows (56 ± 8 days in milk), which were fitted with rumen cannulas (10 cm i.d., Bar Diamond Inc., Parma, ID, USA) were used in a replicated three × three Latin square design with 18-day periods. Diets consisting of 400 g/kg haylage, 100 g/kg barley silage and 500 g/kg concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis were fed once daily for ad libitum intake. The haylage component constituted the dietary treatments: (i) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada F70 fenugreek (F70), (ii) Crop Development Center Quatro fenugreek (QUAT) and (iii) alfalfa (ALF). DM intake (DMI), milk yield and milk protein and lactose yields were higher (P < 0.001) for cows fed ALF than fenugreek (FEN, average of F70 and QUAT). Milk fat of cows fed FEN contained lower concentrations of saturated, medium-chain and hypercholestrolemic fatty acids (FAs; P < 0.05) than that of cows fed ALF. Apparent total tract digestibility of DM and nutrients was not affected by treatments. Similarly, individual ruminal volatile FA concentrations and rumen pH (5.9) were not affected by treatments. Rumen ammonia-N concentration was higher for FEN than ALF (P < 0.001). Estimates of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) passage rate (P < 0.05) and NDF turnover rate (P < 0.001) in the rumen were higher for ALF than FEN. Our results suggest that although the digestibility of the FEN diets was not different from that of the ALF diet, fenugreek haylage has a lower feeding value than ALF for lactating dairy cows due in part to lower DMI and subsequently lower milk yield.     

Identification and validation of in silico mined polymorphic EST-SSR for genetic diversity and cross-species transferability studies in Safflower

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Safflower, an important oil seed and medicinal crop has rich genetic diversity but limited genetic resources, which could be utilized for its...     

Production of nutritionally desirable fatty acids in seed oil of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) by metabolic engineering

Development of a designer oilseed crop with improved yield attributes and enhanced nutritional quality for the benefits of mankind and animal husbandry is now achievable with the combination of genetic engineering and plant breeding. In spite of their immense importance, the fatty acid profiles of most oilseed crops are imbalanced that necessitate the use of metabolic engineering strategies to overcome the various shortfalls in order to improve the nutritional quality of these edible oils. Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), being one of the important oilseed crops in Indian subcontinent naturally contains ~50 % nutritionally undesirable very long chain unsaturated fatty acids (VLCUFAs), e.g. erucic acid (C_22:1). For the purpose of nutritional improvement of B. juncea seed oil, several metabolic engineering strategies have been employed to divert the carbon flux from the production of VLCUFAs to other important fatty acids. Stearic acid, being a saturated but nutritionally neutral fatty acid, is naturally inadequate in most of the conventional oil seeds. Due to its neutral effect on consumer’s health and as an important industrial ingredient, increased in planta production of stearic acid in the seed oil not only helps in reduction of production cost but also lessens the trans fatty acid production during commercial hydrogenation process. In this review metabolic engineering strategies to minimize the VLCUFAs along with increased production of stearic acid in the seed oil of B. juncea are discussed, so that further breeding attempts can be made to improve the nutritionally desirable fatty acid profile in the suitable cultivars of this important oilseed crop.     

胡芦巴的营养成分及其利用

胡芦巴为传统中药材,在我国许多地方都能种植。胡芦巴含有薯蓣皂苷元、黄酮、生物碱等多种药用成分,有降血脂、降血糖等作用。胡芦巴还含有丰富的蛋白质、油脂、多糖、维生素和矿物质等营养成分,在食品、药品、保健品、化妆品等方面有广泛用途。重点介绍胡芦巴的营养成分,为胡芦巴的进一步开发提供参考。     

Soil seed bank contributes significantly to genetic variation of Hypericum sinaicum in a changing environment

The contribution of soil seed bank of a desert endemic plant species in maintaining genetic diversity has been addressed in this paper through investigating the differences in genetic diversity and structure (using AFLP markers) between plants grown from soil seed bank and standing crop plants within and among five populations of H. sinaicum growing at St. Katherine Protectorate, southern Sinai, Egypt. Standard genetic diversity measures showed that the molecular variation within and among populations was highly significantly different between standing crop and soil seed bank. While soil seed bank had lower genetic diversity than standing crop populations, pooling soil seed bank with standing crop samples resulted in higher diversity. The results revealed also that soil seed bank had lower differentiation (7 %) than among populations of the standing crop (18 %). Results of neighbor-joining, Bayesian clustering and principal coordinate analysis showed that soil seed banks had a separate gene pool different from standing crop. The study came to the conclusion that the genetic variation of the soil seed bank contributes significantly to the genetic variation of the species. This also stresses the importance of elucidating the genetic diversity and structure of the soil seed bank for any sound and long-term conservation efforts for desert species. These have been growing in small-size populations for a long time that any estimates gained only from aboveground sampling of populations may be ambiguous.     

Genetic diversity study of some medicinal plant accessions belong to Apiaceae family based on seed storage proteins patterns

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) and Longleaf (Falcaria vulgaris Bernh) that all belong to Apiaceae family as medicinal plants are very important in many countries. Study of genetic diversity for medicinal plant is important for researches in future. One of the methods to evaluate plant genetic diversity and classification of them is the electrophoresis of seed storage proteins. This research was conducted in order to evaluate seed protein variability in different Iranian Cumin, Fennel and Longleaf accessions and grouping them based on these proteins as a biochemical marker. For this purpose, the samples were first powdered in liquid nitrogen and seed protein was extracted with extraction buffer. Then total soluble proteins were resolved on 12.5?% sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels. The electrophoretic protein pattern showed 38 bands that were low polymorphism among the accessions. The result of cluster analysis showed that the accessions were classified in three groups (all 29 Cumin accessions in the first group, three Fennel ecotypes in second group and three Longleaf accessions in the last one).     

Improving drought stress tolerance in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) by exogenous melatonin

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the changes which occurred in the water-stressed fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum L.) in response to melatonin treatment. Fenugreek is a valuable medicinal plant which contains trigonelline that plays an osmoregulatory role in abiotic stress. To this end, the effects of three levels of water deficit in the first experiment and four concentrations of melatonin in the second experiment were investigated on the physiological and biochemical responses. The findings of the first experiment demonstrated that water deficit decreased the weight and length of fenugreek shoots as well as pigments contents, and catalase activity. In addition, such a deficit led to an increase in proline, trigonelline, melatonin and enhanced the activity of other antioxidant enzymes. Finally, the hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde concentrations increased under severe stress. The results of the second experiment indicated that melatonin treatment significantly reduced chlorophyll degradation. Furthermore, the activities of the ROS scavenging enzymes were increased by melatonin. Moreover, exogenous melatonin led to an increase in endogenous melatonin and trigonelline whereas it led to a decrease in proline content. These results revealed that fenugreek tolerated water deficit by increasing the endogenous melatonin and trigonelline, as well as the general physiological responses.     

Improvement of the Antioxidant Activity of Fenugreek Protein Isolates by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus lactis</Emphasis> Fermentation

This study investigated the antioxidant capacity of fenugreek protein isolate and its improvement by Lc. lactis fermentation through bioactive peptides production and the effect of molecular weight variation on fenugreek fractions antioxidant activity. Fenugreek protein isolate showed a significant increase of antioxidant and radical scavenging activity after 24 h of fermentation, by about 23.7, 42.9 and 40% for respectively antioxidant activity coefficient AAC, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity. FI fermentation led to a hydrolysis of peptide bands with MW?>?35 kDa and a generation of new bands with a MW?<?25 kDa. A significant reduction in molecular-mass distribution of hydrolysates and a great increase of total free amino acids content, especially an increase on isoleucine, leucine, glutamic acid, serine, histidine, glutamine and lysine was noted. The infrared results showed that different reactions may take place after fermentation, and showed an increase of proteins, amides and aromatic compounds. However, fenugreek fraction (F2) with MW 15–50 kDa presented the highest activity instead of fraction (F1) with lower MW. Lc. lactis had the ability to degrade and convert fenugreek proteins into bioactive peptides that contribute positively in the improvement of antioxidant activity of FI and fractions. FI presents a significant antioxidant activity and thus, can be considered as a potential source of high added value natural antioxidants and may be employed as a functional food ingredient with good potential applications in food products.     

Effects of vanadate, insulin and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) on creatine kinase levels in tissues of diabetic rat

The in vivo effects of insulin, and other insulino mimetic agents like vanadate and fenugreek (T. foenum graecum) were followed on the changes in the activities of creatine kinase in heart, skeletal muscle and liver of experimental diabetic rats. As compared to control rats, creatine kinase activities were found to decrease significantly in the tissues during experimental diabetes. All the antidiabetic compounds used namely, insulin, vanadate and Fenugreek seed powder normalised the decreased activities to almost control values. The effects of insulin and vanadate were comparable in restoring normoglycemia and the creatine kinase activities.     

Genetic mapping and QTL analysis of agronomic traits in Indian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mucuna pruriens</Emphasis> using an intraspecific F<Subscript>2</Subscript> population

Mucuna pruriens is a well-recognized agricultural and horticultural crop with important medicinal use. However, antinutritional factors in seed and adverse morphological characters have negatively affected its cultivation. To elucidate the genetic control of agronomic traits, an intraspecific genetic linkage map of Indian M. pruriens has been developed based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers using 200 F ₂ progenies derived from a cross between wild and cultivated genotypes. The resulting linkage map comprised 129 AFLP markers dispersed over 13 linkage groups spanning a total distance of 618.88 cM with an average marker interval of 4.79 cM. For the first time, three QTLs explaining about 6.05–14.77% of the corresponding total phenotypic variation for three quantitative (seed) traits and, eight QTLs explaining about 25.96% of the corresponding total phenotypic variation for three qualitative traits have been detected on four linkage groups. The map presented here will pave a way for mapping of genes/QTLs for the important agronomic and horticultural traits contrasting between the parents used in this study.