Description

Trigonella foenum-graecum, fenugreek, is an erect annual herb of the family Fabaceae, believed to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean and Near East, from where it spread through ancient trade networks to India, where it is now one of the most widely cultivated spice crops. India accounts for over 80% of global production, with Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh as primary growing states. The angular, pale yellow seeds are documented in the Charaka Samhita as Methi, and in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman materia medica, representing one of the earliest internationally traded medicinal plants. Traditionally incorporated in Ayurvedic formulations for digestive, metabolic, and lactation-supporting preparations, fenugreek seeds are also a key Unani dietary medicine.