Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum):

Therapeutic actions:

Anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulant, demulcent, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, galactagogue, laxative, nutritive. (Bone, 2003, p. 210) (Newall, et al., 1996. p. 117)

Phytochemical constituents that enhance these:

• Steroidal saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, mucilage, bitter principle, volatile and fixed oil. (Bone, 2003, p. 213) (Hoffmann, 2002, p. 154)

Supporting evidence:

In animal studies, high doses of an ethanol extract of fenugreek that had high levels of saponins was found to have increased food intake and the motivation to eat. When fenugreek was supplemented as 2% of the diet, it was found to have "enhanced pancreatic lipase activity." (Bone, 2003, p. 213)