Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Effects of Fenugreek Seed on the Severity and Systemic Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea

Authors
Sima Younesy 1
Sedigheh Amiraliakbari 1
Somayeh Esmaeili 2
Hamid Alavimajd 3
Soheila Nouraei 1
1 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Scien
3 Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a prevalent disorder and its unfavorable effects deteriorates the quality of life in many people across the world. Based on some evidence on the characteristics of fenugreek as a medical plant with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, this double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial was conducted. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of fenugreek seeds on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea among students. Methods: Unmarried Students were randomly assigned to two groups who received fenugreek (n=51) or placebo (n=50). For the first 3 days of menstruation, 23 capsules containing fenugreek seed powder (900 mg) were given to the subjects three times daily for two consecutive menstrual cycles. Pain severity was evaluated using a visual analog scale and systemic symptoms were assessed using a multidimensional verbal scale. Results: Pain severity at baseline did not differ significantly between the two groups. Pain severity was significantly reduced in both groups after the intervention; however, the fenugreek group experienced significantly larger pain reduction (p < 0.001). With respect to the duration of pain, there was no meaningful difference between the two cycles in the placebo group (p=0.07) but in the fenugreek group, the duration of pain decreased between the two cycles (p < 0.001). Systemic symptoms of dysmenorrhea (fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, lack of energy, syncope) decreased in the fenugreek seed group (p < 0.05). No side effects were reported in the fenugreek group. Conclusion: These data suggest that prescription of fenugreek seed powder during menstruation can reduce the severity of dysmenorrhea.
Keywords
Dysmenorrhea
fenugreek
Herbal medicine
  1. Shah Hosseini Z, Amin GR, Salehi Sormaghi MH, Danesh MM, Abedian K. Double blind study of anti-primary dysmenorrhea effects of Vitagnus. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci. 2006;15(50):15–21.
  2. Speroff L, Fritz MA. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams &Wilkins; 2005. Chapter 14, Menstrual disorders; p. 539.
  3. Dolatian M, Jafari HNV, Afrakhteh M, Taleban FA, Gachkar L. [Effects of fish oil on primary dysmenorrheal]. J Zanjan Univ Med Scis. 2004;12(47):7–13. Persian.
  4. Arulkumaran S. Essentials of gynecology. 1st ed. New Delhi; Jaypee Brothers; 2005. 344 p.
  5. Rapkin AJ, Howe CN, editors. Pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea. California: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007. 516 p. (Berek JS, editor. Berek and Novak's Gynecology).
  6. Hacker NF, Moore JG. Essentials of obstetrics and gynecology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1998. 550 p.
  7. Gerbie MV, editor. Complication of menstruation. USA: McGraw-Hill; 2003. 625 p. (DeCherney AH, Nathan L, editors. Current obstetric & gynecologic diagnosis & treatment).
  8. Singh A, Kiran D, Singh H, Nel B, Singh P, Tiwari P. Prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhea: a problem related to menstruation, among first and second year female medical students. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2008;52(4):389–97.
  9. Tavallaee M, Joffres MR, Corber SJ, Bayanzadeh M, Rad MM. The prevalence of menstrual pain and associated risk factors among Iranian women. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2011;37(5):442–51.
  10. Unsal A, Ayranci U, Tozun M, Arslan G, Calik E. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its effect on quality of life among a group of female university students. Ups J Med Sci. 2010;115(2):138–45.
  11. Holtzman DA, Petrocco-Napuli KL, Burke JR. Prospective case series on the effects of lumbosacral manipulation on dysmenorrhea. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008;31(3):237–46.
  12. DerMarderosian A. The review of natural products. 5th ed. Netherland: Wolters Kluwer Co; 2003.
  13. Al-dalain S, El-kutry MS, Ibrahim HS. Inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts of barley and fenugreek on ulcer induction in rats. World Appl Sci J. 2008; 5(3):332-9.
  14. Yassin SAT. Herbal remedy used by rural adolescent girls with menstrual disorders. J Am Sci. 2012;8(1):467-73.
  15. Abebe W. Herbal medication: potential for adverse interactions with analgesic drugs. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2002;27(6):391-401.
  16. Stoppard M. Family health guide. 1st ed. London; 2002. 592 p.
  17. Ebadi M. Pharmacodynamic basis of herbal medicine. 1st ed. London: CRC Press; 2002. 699 p.
  18. Swafford S, Berens P, editors. Proceeding of the 5th International Meeting of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine; 2000 Sept 11-13; Tucson, Az.
  19. Sharififara F, Khazaeli P, Alli N. In vivo evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of topical preparations from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds in a cream base. Iran J Pharm Sci. 2009:5(3):157-62.
  20. Mayo JL. Black cohosh and chasteberry: herbs valued by women for centuries. Clin Nutr Insights. 1998;6(15):1-4.
  21. Yadav UC,Baquer NZ.Pharmacological effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. in health and disease. Pharm Biol. 2013;(9).
  22. Toppo FA, Akhand R, Pathak AK. Pharmacological actions and potential uses of trigonella foenum-graecum: a review. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2009;2(4):29–38.
  23. Tieroconad D, Kara P, Weisman S .Critical evaluation of the safety of cimicifuga racemosa in menopause symptom relief. Menopause. 2003;10(4):299-313.
  24. Kochhar A, Nagi M, Sachdeva R. Proximate composition, available carbohydrates, dietary fibre and anti-nutritional factors of selected traditional medicinal plants. J Hum Ecol. 2006;19:195–9.
  25. Ody P. The herb society's complete medicinal herbal. 1st ed. London: Dorling Kindersley; 1993. 192 p.
  26. D'Amelio FS. Botanicals: a phytocosmetic desk reference boca raton. United Kingdom: CRC Press; 1999.
  27. Billaud C, Adrian J. Fenugreek: composition, nutritional value and physiological properties. Sci Des Ailments. 2001;21:3–26.
  28. Sharma RD, Raghram TC. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type 1 diabetics. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000;44:301-6.
  29. Puri D. Therapeutic potentials of fenugreek. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998;42:423–4.
  30. Prasanna M. Hypolipidemic effect of fenugreek: a clinical study. Indian J Pharmacol. 2000;32:34–6.
  31. Pandian RS, Anuradha CV, Viswanathan P. Gastroprotective effect of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on experimental gastric ulcer in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81:393–7.
  32. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale rosc) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation with coronary artery disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1997;56:379–4.
  33. Yunbao Liu, Rajesh Kakani, Nair MG. Compounds in functional food fenugreek spice exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Food Chem. 2012;131(4):1187–92.
  34. Parvizpour A, Ahmadiani A, Javan M, Kamalinejad M. [A study on the site of antinociceptive effect of Trigonella foenum graecum (TFG) leaves extract in phasic and tonic models of pain]. Physiol Pharmacol 2000;3(2):193–9. Persian.
  35. Ahmadiani A, Javan M, Semnanian S, Barat E, Kamalinejad M. Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves extract in the rat. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;75(2-3):283–6.
  36. Parvizpur A, Ahmadiani A, Kamalinejad M. Spinal serotonergic system is partially involved in antinociception induced by Trigonella foenum-graecum (TFG) leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;95(1):13–7.
  37. Vyas S, Agrawal RP, Solanki P, Trivedi P. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum (seed) extract. Acta Pol Pharm. 2008;65(4):473–6.
  38. Hakimi S, Mohammad Alizadeh Charandabi S, Siahi Shadbad MR, Bamdad Moghadam R, Abbasalizadeh F, Mustafa Ghrebaghi P, et al. [Effect of fenugreek seed on early menopausal symptoms]. Pharm Sci. 2005;2:83–90. Persian.
  39. McMahon S, Koltzenburg M. Textbook of pain. 4th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 1999. 661 p.
  40. Sundell G, Milsom I, Andersch B. Factors influencing the prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhoea in young women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1990;97(7):588–94.
  41. Han SH, Hur MH, Buckle J, Choi J, Lee MS. Effect of aromatherapy on symptoms of dysmenorrhea in college students . J Altern Complementary Med. 2006;12(6):535-41.
  42. Melzack R, Wall P. Text book of pain. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2005. 926 p.
  43. Nagata C, Oba S, Shimizu H. Associations of menstrual cycle length with intake of soy, fat, and dietary fiber in Japanese women. Nutr Cancer. 2006;54(2):166-70.
  44. Nagata C, Hirokawa K, Shimizu N, Shimizu H. Associations of menstrual pain with intakes of soy, fat and dietary fiber in Japanese women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59(1):88-92.
  45. Subhashini N, Thangathirupathi A, Lavanya N. Antioxidant activity of trigonella foenum graecum using various in vitro and ex vivo models. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2011;3(2):96–102.
  46. Al-Ajmi MF. The effect of fenugreek on the bioavailability of glibenclamide in normal beagle dogs. Afr J Pharm Pharm. 2011;5(6):671–7.
  47. Mokhtari M, Shariati M, Khodaparast L. [Assessment of the effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of mentha pulegium leaves on liver function test in male rat]. J Sabzevar Univ Med Sci. 2008;15(2): 73-81. Persian.
  48. Javan M, Ahmadiani A, Semnanian S, Kamalinejad M. Antinociceptive effects of trigonella foenum-graecum leaves extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997;58(2):125–9.
  49. Abou El-Soud NH, Khalil MY, Hussein JS, Oraby FSH, Farrag ARH. Antidiabetic effects of fenugreek alkaloid extract in streptozotocin induced hyperglycaemic rats. J Appl Sci Res. 2007;3:1073–83.
  50. Tripathi UN, Jamal F, Chandra D. Pharmacological potentials of triogonella foenum-graecum (methi): A review. Nat J Life Sci. 2007;4:205–7.
  51. Szentmihalyi k, May Z, Sule K, Then M. Mineral content of some herbs and plant extracts with anti-inflammatory effect used in gastrointestinal diseases. Orv Hetil. 2013;154(14):538-43.
  52. Kee JL, Hayes ER, McCuistion L. Pharmacology: A nursing process approach. 5th ed. New York: Elsevier; 2006. 654 p.
  53. Posadzki P, Watson LK, Ernts E. Adverse effects of herbal medicines: an overview of systemic reviews. Clin Med. 2013;13(1):7-12.
  54. Chaturvedi U, Shrivastava A, Bhadaurias S, Saxena JK, Bhatia G. A mechanism-based pharmacological evaluation of efficacy of trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) seeds in regulation of dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in hyperlipidemic rats. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2013;61(6):505-12.
  55. Shojaii A, Hashem Dabaghian F, Goushegir A, Abdollahi Fard M. Antidiabetic plants of Iran. Acta Medica Iranica. 2011;49(10):637-42.
  56. Sabzevari O, Andalibi M, Ahmadiani A, Kamalinejad M, Abdollahi M, Ostad SN. Cytotoxicity assay of fenugreek aqueous extract on NIH3T3 fibroblast cells. Tehran Univ Med J. 2008;66(8):545-51.
  57. Mandegari A, Pournamdari M, Sharififar F, Pournourmohammadi S, Fardiar R, Shoolis S. Alkaloid and flavonoid rich fractions of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Food Chem Toxicol. 2012;50(7):2503-7.
  58. Laroubi A, Farouk L, Aboufatima R, Benharref A, Bagri A, Chait A. Antinociceptive properties of trigonella foenumgreacum seeds extracts. Afr J Biochem Res. 2009;3(2);17-23.
Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 15, Issue 1
Winter 2014
Pages 41-48