Fenugreek: Potential Applications as a Functional Food and Nutraceutical
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Nasim Khorshidian , Mojtaba Yousefi Asli , Masoumeh Arab , Abolfazl Adeli Mirzaie , Amir Mohammad Mortazavian * |
Dept.of Food Science and Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran |
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Abstract: (10576 Views) |
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum), native to southern Europe and Asia, is an annual herb with white flowers and hard, yellowish brown and angular seeds, known from ancient times, for nutritional value beside of its medicinal effects. Fenugreek seeds are rich source of gum, fiber, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and volatile content. Due to its high content of fiber, fenugreek could be used as food stabilizer, adhesive and emulsifying agent to change food texture for some special purposes. Some evidence suggests that fenugreek may also be regarded as antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antibacterial agent, antianorexia agent, and gastric stimulant, as well as remedy for hypocholesterolemia and hypoglycemia. The present article is aimed to review the potential applications of fenugreek as a functional food and nutraceutical agent. |
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Keywords: Chemical composition, Fenugreek gum, Fenugreek, Health benefits |
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Full-Text [PDF 407 kb]
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Article type: Applicable |
Subject:
Food Science Received: 2015/08/24 | Accepted: 2016/01/2 | Published: 2016/01/2
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