Fenugreek extract

Description

Herbaceous plant indigenous to western Asia, now widespread throughout mountainous and hilly areas of Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia. The herb is about 0.5 m (20 in.) tall, with a velveted, erect stalk, alternate leaves, and whitish-yellow flowers that bloom from June to July. The fruits are linear-compressed with smooth, rounded seeds. The seeds are the part used. The freshly comminuted seed displays an intensely sweet, spicy, pro- tein-like aroma. The flavor is reminiscent of slightly burnt sugar, with a bitter back note.
There is very little known of any essential oil; obtained by steam distillation of the seeds with yields varying from 1 to 3%. Its main constituent is anethole. The dried product and its extracts contain trigonelline (alkaloid).
The derivatives are infusion (5%), fluid extract, tincture (20% in 30% ethanol), and oleoresein.