Efficacy of Nutūl-i-Ḥār (Hot Irrigation), a Polyherbal Unani Formulation, in the Treatment of Shaqīqa-i-Muzmin (Chronic Migraine): An Open Single-Arm Exploratory Clinical Trial

Shaqīqa-i-Muzmin (chronic migraine) is a type of migraine that is usually caused by cold humours (bārid akhlāṭ), specifically by phlegm (balgham) and to lesser extent by black bile (sauda). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Nutul-i-Ḥār (hot irrigation) in the treatment of chronic migraine. Nutul (irrigation) therapy is widely and successfully used in diseases of head as described in Unānī system of medicine. This open, single-arm, exploratory clinical study was conducted in 30 patients of chronic migraine selected by convenient sampling method. One litre decoction prepared with 12 g each of Astragalus hamosus L. (Iklilul malik), Matricaria chamomilla L. (Babuna), Artemisia absinthium L. (Afsanteen), Origanum vulgare L. (Marznjosh) and Trigonella foenum graecum L. (Hulba) was poured over painful side of head for 45 minutes on every alternate day for a period of 30 days (15 sittings). The patients, thereafter, were followed untill 90th day of the study for various outcome measures comprising headache intensity, headache frequency, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), and rescue medication. The reduction in headache frequency, MIDAS score and use of rescue medication was significant (p < 0.001) after the treatment. Reduction in headache intensity at 30th day, 60th day and 90th day was significant as compared with baseline values (p < 0.001) but not statistically significant at 90th day with respect to 60th day (p > 0.05). Statistical analysis was done using parametric (paired t-test) and non-parametric tests (Wilcoxan sign ranked test, Freidman with Dunn’s multiple comparison tests). Hot irrigation with medicated decoction was found effective in the treatment of chronic migraine.

Some Common Medicinal Plants with Antidiabetic Activity, Known and Available in Europe (A Mini-Review)

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affected 9.3% of adults worldwide in 2019. Its co-occurrence is suspected to increase mortality from COVID-19. The treatment of diabetes is mainly based on the long-term use of pharmacological agents, often expensive and causing unpleasant side effects. There is an alarming increase in the number of pharmaceuticals taken in Europe. The aim of this paper is to concisely collect information concerning the few antidiabetic or hypoglycaemic raw plant materials that are present in the consciousness of Europeans and relatively easily accessible to them on the market and sometimes even grown on European plantations. The following raw materials are discussed in this mini-review: Morus alba L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum J.Presl, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Phaseolus vulgaris L., Zingiber officinale Rosc., and Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer in terms of scientifically tested antidiabetic activity and the presence of characteristic biologically active compounds and their specific properties, including antioxidant properties. The characteristics of these raw materials are based on in vitro as well as in vivo studies: on animals and in clinical studies. In addition, for each plant, the possibility to use certain morphological elements in the light of EFSA legislation is given.

Synergic effect of aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum and Trigonella foenum-graecum L on the in situ green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and as a preventative agent against antibiotic-resistant food spoiling organisms

Combining Ocimum sanctum and Trigonella foenum-graecum L leaf water extracts synergistically act as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of narrow polydisperse silver nanoparticles with controlled sizes depending on the precursor (AgNO3) concentration.

Processing Impact on Nutritional, Antinutritional, and Phytochemical of Fenugreek Seeds (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L.)

Phytate and tannin are more pronounced antinutrients limiting the nutritional quality of fenugreek. The impact of roasting (130±5°C for 7 minutes), soaking (12 hrs. at room temperature) and germination (72 hrs. at 25°C) on bioactive compounds (polyphenol and antioxidant activity), nutritional and anti-nutritional compounds (phytate and tannin) in Fenugreek were studied. Experimental data were analyzed using the software GenStat 12th Edition. Protein increased significantly (p<0.05) during roasting, soaking, and germination whereas fat decreased significantly. Iron and calcium increased during roasting whereas decreased during soaking and germination. Maximum reduction of phytate (54.55%) and tannin (66.73%) were found when fenugreek seeds were germinated (72 hours). The reduction percentage of antinutrients by soaking (12 hours) and roasting (130±5⁰C for 7 mins) was found to be a lesser effective method compared to germination. All the treatments had a significant (p<0.05) impact on their bioactive components. Phenolic content increased significantly (p<0.05) during roasting, soaking, and germination. Antioxidant activity (IC50=1.28mg dm/ml) was found to be high in the germinated samples as compared to raw, roasted, and soaked samples. Hence, Germination of fenugreek seeds for 72 hours is concluded as the most effective and promising method for the reduction of antinutrients and increasing the nutritional components, phytochemicals, and antioxidant properties.

An assessment of cytotoxic potentiality of Aloe barbadensis on the root meristem cells of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

The leaves of Aloe barbadensis are used in traditional and modern systems of medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic potentialities of aqueous solution of Aloe barbadensis leaves on Trigonella foenum-graecum root tip meristem cells using a cytogenetic approach. Treatments with various concentrations of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract to Trigonella foenum-graecum root meristem cells showed mito-inhibition and induced several chromosomal aberrations as chromsomal breakage, fragmentation, scattering, stickiness etc.

Effect of Ethanol Solvents on Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Properties of Seed Extracts of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Varieties and Determination of Phenolic Composition by HPLC-ESI-MS

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated plants grown for its leaves and seeds that are used for both culinary and medicinal purpose. This study aims to evaluate the effect of ethanol concentration (30, 50, 70 and 96% (v/v) of ethanol in water) as a solvent for the extraction of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant properties (antiradical activity (ARA), transition metal reducing power (TMRP), iron chelating ability (ICA)) of seed extracts of spring variety Ovari 4 (FSV) and winter variety PSZ.G.SZ (FWV) fenugreek, and separate and identify the major phenolics of the extracts by HPLC-ESI-MS. The results indicated that 70% ethanol solution resulted in the maximum amount of TPC for both FSV and FWV seeds. The TPC decreased in the treatments in the following order: 70% ethanol > 96% ethanol > 50% ethanol > 30% ethanol, whereas extraction yield changed in a different manner: 30% ethanol > 50% ethanol > 70% ethanol > 96% ethanol. The extracts from seeds of both fenugreek varieties obtained with 70% and 96% ethanol showed equal high RSA while superior TMRP and ICA were observed in 70% ethanol extracts. The TMRP and ICA were strongly correlated with TPC for both varieties. The correlation between RSA and TPC was high, but not significant. Thus, the obtained data indicate the 70% ethanol solvent suitability for efficient extraction of phenolic compounds from seeds of the FWV and FSV. According to an HPLC-ESI-MS analysis, the polyphenolic profiles of fenugreek are presumably formed by flavone C-glycosides with apigenin or luteolin as aglycone linked with different glycones. High antioxidant activity of FWV seeds can be an adaptation to cold stress of the winter variety aimed at strengthening the antioxidant defense of the germinating seeds.

​SSR Based Genetic Diversity Analysis in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Genotypes

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an important seed spice crop widely grown all over the world. In India, the state of Rajasthan is known for fenugreek production and productivity in the world. A concerted assessment of genetic variability among the germplasm accession is essential for breeding new superior varieties. Molecular markers such as AFLP, RAPD, ISSR, SSR, SCAR, SCoT, SRAP have become for the characterization of the germplasm rapidly and accurately. The present study aimed to characterize 20 elite fenugreek genotypes using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to assess the existing genetic diversity of this medicinal crop. Methods: The present study was carried out at the Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Total genomic DNA was isolated from old leaves using the CTAB method (Doyle and Doyle, 1990). Further, PCR based genetic diversity was analyzed with using 50 SSR primer pairs. Dendrogram was constructed using NTSYSpc version 2.2 and clustering of the genotypes was done. Result: Twenty genotypes of fenugreek were assessed for genetic diversity analysis using SSR markers. Out of 50 markers 43 primer pairs produced 130 alleles with an average of 84.60% polymorphism. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient lied between and 0.39 to 0.82. Based on UPGMA clustering, a dendrogram consisting of five main clusters was generated with wide variability among the studied genotypes. These diverse genotypes so identified could be gainfully utilized in the fenugreek breeding programme.