Anti-Anemic and Haemopoietic Evaluation of Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) in Rodent Model

Abstract

The health benefits and medicinal properties of herbal food products are known since antiquity. Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn (T. foenum-graecum, Fabaceae), a seed spice used to enhance flavor, color and texture of food is employed for medicinal purposes in many traditional systems. Ethno botanical survey of T. foenum-graecum revealed the seeds of the plant to be useful in anemia. The objective of this study was to study the ant-anemic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of seeds of T. foenum-graecum against phenylhydrazine induced anemic rat model. The hydroalcoholic extracts of seeds were prepared by soxhlation. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was performed using standard testing procedures. Hemolytic anemia was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of phenylhydrazine HCl (PHZ) at doses of 40 mg/kg of body weight during two successive days then one day after the animals were treated orally by the hydroalcoholic extracts with the amounts of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of body weight and Dexorange (reference drug) up to 13 days. The rats were analyzed for hematological parameters such as hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC) and white blood cell count (WBC) on day 2 and 13. Phytochemical screening of the extracts indicated the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, sterols, polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids. Anemia was induced successfully in Groups II, III, IV and V which was indicated by a mean reduction of 51.6% in RBC count; 52.85% in Hb content and 54.9% in WBC. Analysis of hematological parameters on day 13 showed that extract significantly (p<0.05) improved Hb, RBC and WBC count at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight. This study, not only substantiates the folklore use of the seed of T. foenum-graecum, but also suggests its inclusion in the treatment of anemia as it exhibited significant anti-anemic activity
 Keywords: Trigonella foenum-graecum, Anemia, Phytochemical analysis, Phenyl hydrazine, Dexorange