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Trigonella foenum-graecum - Medhika

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Fenugreek, Medhika

Trigonella foenum-graecum is an annual plant in the family Fabaceae, with leaves consisting of three small obovate to oblong leaflets. It is cultivated worldwide as a semiarid crop, and its seeds are a common ingredient in dishes from the Indian subcontinent. It's leaves and seeds of medhika plant are widely used in Indian cuisine.

Uses

Diabetes, Constipation, Greasy stools, Loss of appetite, Gastric problem, Peptic Ulcers, Intestinal Gas, Flatulence, Abdominal Distension, Colon Cancer.

Parts Used

Leaves, Seeds.

Chemical Composition

Foenum-graecum leaf is used as a green, leafy vegetable and is a good source of calcium, iron, β-carotene and several vitamins.[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Mente, Mentepalle
Hindi Methi
Malayalam Uluva
Tamil Vendayam
Telugu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Bahuparni, Gandhaphala
English Fenugreek, Greek-clover, Greek hay


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Annual plant

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Alternate The leaves are alternate, compound, trifoliolate, 7-12 cm long, light green in colour

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 2-4cm long Blue 5-20 The flowers are papillonaceous, borne in leaf axils, white, lemon-yellow or purplish blue in colour

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Oblong 2-10 cm The fruits occur as straight or sickle-like pods of 2-10 cm Green-olive or brownish in colour 10-20 seeds {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

[3]

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in situ. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, preferring a well-drained loamy soil in full sun. [4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Field verges, Uncultivated ground, Dry grasslands.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links