Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum) and Its Active Compounds, Diosgenin and Trigonelline, in the Prevention of Cancer and Aging: A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies Publisher



Shahrahmani F ; Ahansazan H ; Kalantari E ; Raeispour M ; Abdolghaffari AH ; Esmaealzadeh N
Source: Current Drug Research Reviews Published:2026

Abstract

Introduction Fenugreek is an herb from the Fabaceae family, rich in phytochemicals like diosgenin and trigonelline, whose antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it a candidate for the current systematic review on the prevention of cancer and aging, with a focus on preclinical studies. Methods Relevant studies were identified from the MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from January 2000 to April 2024. Two independent reviewers assessed the 1,280 retrieved articles for English-language preclinical studies. Clinical articles were added as supporting data. Duplicated or non-original articles, as well as irrelevant papers, were excluded. Results A total of 231 articles were included in the current study. Significant anticancer effects were shown by fenugreek extracts and isolated compounds, including suppression of NF-κB and Wnt-β-catenin signaling, apoptosis induction, upregulation of p53, Bax, and caspase-3; downregulation of Bcl-2, and G0/G1 or G2/M cell cycle arrest. In vivo, survival increases of up to 60% over controls were observed, with tumor volume reductions ranging from 40% to 78% across models. Antioxidant enzymes, SOD, GPx, and GSH, increased by 20–50%, oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation decreased by up to 45% and protein carbonylation by 30%) decreased, skin elasticity increased by 10-20% in clinical trials, and animal models’ cognitive performance improved (escape latency decreased by 25-40%). Discussion This study offers insights into the potential application of fenugreek, diosgenin, and trigonelline as complementary therapies for managing cancer and aging. Conclusion Notable mechanisms include radical scavenging, suppressing apoptosis, and limiting inflammatory pathways. However, the lack of heterogeneous clinical data highlights the essence of conducting more clinical studies in this field. 2026, Bentham Science Publishers