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PubMed · Testofen, a specialised Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a double-blind randomised clinical study. (2016)
PubMed · Withania somnifera and Trigonella foenum-graecum as ingredients of testosterone-boosting supplements: Possible clinical implications. (2025)
Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals
Fenugreek Seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum (seed extract)) is known in English as Methi Extract, Fenugreek 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, Trigonella Extract. It is traditionally used for middle eastern culinary medicine, ayurvedic male tonic, south asian lactation herb.
Is Fenugreek Seed safe during pregnancy?
Fenugreek Seed is not recommended during pregnancy. Consult your healthcare provider for alternatives.
Does Fenugreek Seed interact with medications?
Fenugreek Seed has no well-documented major drug interactions in our database, but always inform your healthcare provider about all supplements you take.
What are the side effects of Fenugreek Seed?
Avoid during pregnancy due to uterotonic effects at high doses, which may stimulate contractions.. May cause a harmless maple syrup-like odor in urine, sweat, and breast milk.. Risk of hypoglycemia when combined with antidiabetic medications; monitor blood glucose closely.. Gastrointestinal side effects include diarrhea, flatulence, and bloating, especially at high doses.
How do I calculate a safe dose of Fenugreek Seed?
Use HerbAlly's free herbal dosage calculator — enter the adult reference dose for Fenugreek Seed, plus age and weight, to get a Clark's / Young's rule pediatric estimate. Never exceed the adult dose.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a medicinal herb recognized for its hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and androgen-modulating properties [PMID:26835874, PMID:26791805].
Background
Fenugreek is an annual herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family native to the eastern Mediterranean and cultivated worldwide [PMID:25922446].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Ayurveda, Unani, and Arabic medicine for the treatment and prevention of various ailments, including easing childbirth, aiding digestion, and as a general tonic to improve metabolism [PMID:33378775, PMID:25922446].
Active compounds
Bioactive molecules include 4-hydroxyisoleucine, trigonelline, furostanolic saponins (such as protodioscin), polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids (e.g., apigenin, luteolin, vitexin), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids) [PMID:33378775, PMID:27756958, PMID:34694954, PMID:26835874].
Mechanism of action
In HepG2 cells, fenugreek seed extract and 4-hydroxyisoleucine stimulate proximal insulin signaling by affecting tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor-β, Akt, GSK-3α/β, and GLUT2 [PMID:26835874]. It may also alleviate menopausal sleep disturbances by activating GABAA and melatonin receptor 1A [PMID:41221726].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BAndrogen Deficiency (Aging Males)
A specialized seed extract (Testofen) significantly decreased Aging Male Symptom (AMS) scores, improved sexual function (including morning erections and activity frequency), and increased total and free serum testosterone [PMID:26791805].
Evidence BPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
A patented extract (Furocyst) demonstrated efficacy in reducing ovarian volume and the number of ovarian cysts in premenopausal women [PMID:26516311, PMID:36219198, PMID:36441141].
Evidence BType 2 Diabetes / Hyperglycemia
Fenugreek seed powder solution was investigated for its effect on lipid profiles in newly diagnosed type II diabetic patients [PMID:31583253]. It is globally recognized for hypoglycemic effects and its ability to reduce hyperglycemic insulin resistance [PMID:26835874].
Evidence ALow Testosterone (General)
A systematic review identified fenugreek seed extracts as one of the herbal extracts that can affect testosterone concentrations in men [PMID:33150931].
Safety & adverse effects
Case reports indicate potential for severe allergic reactions following ingestion, inhalation, or external application, manifesting as rhinorrhea, wheezing, fainting, and facial angioedema [PMID:9087156]. In animal models, high doses of aqueous seed extract (600 mg/kg) caused degenerative changes in testis histoarchitecture and affected sperm parameters [PMID:35415897]. A standardized extract (IDM01) showed no mortality or treatment-related adverse signs in 90-day rat studies at doses up to 2000 mg/kg [PMID:28539737].
Dosage & administration
Reported clinical doses include 600 mg/day of Testofen [PMID:26791805], 1,000 mg/day of Furocyst [PMID:36441141, PMID:36219198], and 25g of seed powder solution twice daily [PMID:31583253]. Consult a healthcare provider.
Evidence summary
Evidence is mixed, ranging from high-level systematic reviews for testosterone modulation to preliminary animal studies for anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects. Clinical evidence for PCOS and androgen deficiency in aging males is supported by RCTs, while antidiabetic effects are widely noted across reviews and trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 33150931 (2021) — Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
2.PMID: 26791805 (2016) — Testofen, a specialised Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a double-blind randomised clinical study. · The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male
4.PMID: 26835874 (2016) — Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract, 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, and Metformin Stimulate Proximal Insulin Signaling and Increase Expression of Glycogenic Enzymes and GLUT2 in HepG2 Cells. · Metabolic syndrome and related disorders
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
— Efficacy of a Proprietary Fenugreek Seed Extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Furocyst®) in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.
· Journal of the American Nutrition Association
6.PMID: 27756958 (2016) — Anti-inflammatory activity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn) seed petroleum ether extract. · Indian journal of pharmacology
7.PMID: 39327545 (2024) — Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed extract on glycemic index, in vitro digestibility, and physical characterization of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) starch. · Journal of food science
8.PMID: 26516311 (2015) — Efficacy of a Novel Fenugreek Seed Extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Furocyst) in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). · International journal of medical sciences
9.PMID: 40499430 (2025) — Fenugreek-derived exosome-like nanovesicles containing bioavailable phytoferritin for the management of iron deficiency anemia. · Food chemistry
10.PMID: 21654091 (2011) — Metabolic and molecular action of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) and trace metals in experimental diabetic tissues. · Journal of biosciences
11.PMID: 36415758 (2022) — The effect of fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) supplementation on the performance and milk yield characteristics of dairy goats. · Archives animal breeding
12.PMID: 38863744 (2024) — A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a patented fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract in Type 2 diabetics. · Food & nutrition research
13.PMID: 31870120 (2019) — Antibacterial and Anticancer Activities of Fenugreek Seed Extract. · Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
14.PMID: 36441141 (2023) — Beneficial Effects of a Novel Fenugreek Seed Extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Furocyst®) in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Follow-up Compliance Clinical Investigation. · Journal of the American Nutrition Association
15.PMID: 9087156 (1997) — Allergy to fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum). · Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
16.PMID: 39941027 (2025) — Effect of Fenugreek Extract on Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. · International journal of molecular sciences
17.PMID: 31583253 (2019) — Antidiabetic Effect of Fenugreek Seed Powder Solution (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on Hyperlipidemia in Diabetic Patients. · Journal of diabetes research
18.PMID: 25922446 (2016) — A Review on Ethnobotanical and Therapeutic Uses of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L). · Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
19.PMID: 33378775 (2021) — Recent Therapeutic Interventions of Fenugreek Seed: A Mechanistic Approach. · Drug research
20.PMID: 33815699 (2021) — Cardioprotective effects of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum) seed extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. · Journal of cardiovascular and thoracic research
21.PMID: 28539737 (2017) — Preclinical Toxicological Evaluation of IDM01: The Botanical Composition of 4-Hydroxyisoleucine- and Trigonelline-based Standardized Fenugreek Seed Extract. · Pharmacognosy research
22.PMID: 34694954 (2023) — Safety and Efficacy of Furosap®, a Patented Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract, in Boosting Testosterone Level, Reproductive Health and Mood Alleviation in Male Volunteers. · Journal of the American Nutrition Association
23.PMID: 11351364 (2001) — Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) seed extract as an antineoplastic agent. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
24.PMID: 25010626 (2014) — Effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed on bone mechanical properties in rats. · European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
25.PMID: 41221726 (2025) — Standardized fenugreek seed extract alleviates menopausal sleep disturbances via GABAA, melatonin, and adenosine receptors in ovariectomized (OVX) rodents. · Food & function
26.PMID: 41035180 (2026) — Potential of Fenfuro®, a novel, standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) seed extract, in ameliorating glycation-mediated amyloidogenesis. · Toxicology mechanisms and methods
27.PMID: 33055445 (2020) — Physico-Chemical Analysis and Fatty Acid Profiling of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Seed Oil Using Different Solvents. · Journal of oleo science
28.PMID: 32846876 (2020) — Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seeds Dietary Supplementation Regulates Liver Antioxidant Defense Systems in Aging Mice. · Nutrients
29.PMID: 29160624 (2017) — Buccal patches of atenolol formulated using fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed mucilage. · Polimery w medycynie
30.PMID: 35415897 (2022) — Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed extract on the reproductive system of male mice and possible mechanism of its action on spermatogenesis. · Andrologia