year 9, Issue 35 (9-2010)                   J. Med. Plants 2010, 9(35): 1-18 | Back to browse issues page

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1- Department of Cultivation and Development, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR , Mehrafarinali@hotmail.com
2- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR
3- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutics, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR
4- Department of Cultivation and Development, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR
5- Department of Agronomy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU)
6- Department of Weed Research, Iranian Plant Protection Research Institute
Abstract:   (6828 Views)
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) has a long and respected history of medicinal uses in Middle East and Persian medicine. The hypocholesterolaemic and hypoglycaemic effects of fenugreek were attributed to its major steroidal sapogenin, diosgenin and its major alkaloid, trigonelline. The knowledge of diosgenin and trigonelline biosynthesis is derived from studies of cholesterol and nicotinic acid production through acetyl-CoA→ mevalonate→ isopentenyl pyrophosphate→ squalene→ lanosterol→ cholesterol→ diosgenin and quinolinic acid→ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide→ nicotinamide→ nicotinic acid→ trigonelline pathways, respectively. This paper reviews the secondary metabolites and metabolic pathways of diosgenin and trigonelline production in fenugreek as a medicinal plant and economical crop.
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Agriculture & Ethnobotany
Received: 2010/07/2 | Accepted: 2010/09/4 | Published: 2010/10/29

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