Antidiabetic Effect of Fenugreek Seed Powder Solution (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on Hyperlipidemia in Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND: Many drugs are commercially available for use in the management of diabetes. However, their side effects and high costs underscore the need for herbal alternative drugs. Trigonella foenum-graecum is one of the medicinal plants which are important in the management of diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder solution on the lipid profile of newly diagnosed type II diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of N = 114 newly diagnosed type II diabetic patients without any significant diabetes complication were selected. They were grouped into two groups: the treatment group (n = 57) consumed 25 g Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder solution orally twice a day for one month and the second group is the control (n = 57) which receives metformin. Blood sample was collected from each participant by a medical technologist/technician before and after the study. Lipid profile was analyzed by using Mindray BS 200E fully automated clinical chemistry analyzer. RESULT: By the end of the intervention period, the treatment group showed significantly lower total cholesterol level by 13.6% as compared with the baseline level (219.1 ± 35.51 vs. 189.29 ± 29.06, P < 0.001) and the control group (189.29 ± 29.06 vs. 208.2 ± 40.2, P < 0.001); triglyceride level also reduced by 23.53% compared with the baseline level (256.1 ± 15.4 vs. 195.8 ± 82.95, P < 0.001) and compared with the control group (195.8 ± 82.95 vs. 244.1 ± 96.9, P < 0.05); and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level also reduced by 23.4% as compared to the baseline level (137.9 ± 26.9 vs. 105.6 ± 24.2, P < 0.001) and the control group (between groups) (105.6 ± 24.2 vs. 144.1 ± 23.3, P < 0.001), but the treatment group showed significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level by 21.7% as compared to the baseline level, within group (37.8 ± 1.51 vs. 48.3 ± 11.9, P < 0.001), and the control group, between groups (48.3 ± 11.9 vs. 36.01 ± 9.5, P < 0.001). However, lipid profile levels in the control group were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the administration of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder solution had pronounced effects in improving lipid metabolism in type II diabetic patients with no adverse effects. Therefore, Trigonella foenum-graecum seed may provide new alternatives for the clinical management of type II diabetes.