Fenugreek oil is one of the most important essential oils types used in the past. It is characterized by its yellow color that can sometimes be dark brown. It has a strong and heavy smell; it is a vegetable oil that is extracted by the fenugreek plant seeds.
The fenugreek plant is one of the ancient plants which was used in alternative medicine, it is an annual plant, covered by lint or bare, about 50 cm tall, little branching, and erect plant. Its leaves consist of three leaflets, contains numerous seeds which are fenugreek, which is 3 – 5 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, its color light brown or reddish-gray to a yellowish, polygonal, rhombus, irregularly rounded, wrinkled, and dermal. The inflorescence happens from March to April.
The scientific name for the genus Trigonella by Latin means trigonometric, which is referring to the leaf shape for the foenum-graecum type, its name means “Greek Hay”, since foenum means hay by Latin and graecum means Greek. Its Arabic name came from the name “Helba” and its hieroglyphic origin.
Fenugreek has been planted, and its seeds have been used since the ancients not only as food but also as potent drugs for thousands of years., in India and Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used it to make childbirth easy, also it is a recipe for treating burns as mentioned by Greek medicine and the Greeks and Romans used it for cattle fodder. In India fenugreek is commonly consumed as a condiment and used medicinally as a lactation stimulant
Fenugreek plant is rich in protein, sugars, and fat, so their nutritional value is very high. Plus, it is containing salts, which the most important ones are Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, and some vitamins. Also, its seeds contain resin material, fixed oils, and volatile oils.
Fenugreek oil also contains Trigonelline and Choline, which is the main ingredient for the medicinal effect of fenugreek seeds. It also contains soapy materials, coloring materials, and Nicotinic acid.
| Amount | Ingredients (1) |
| 323 kcal | Energy |
| 45% | Carbohydrate |
| 25-30% | Protein |
| 24.6 g | Fiber |
| 8-10% | Water |
| less than 1% | Nicotinic acid. |
| 6% | fixed oil |
| 1-2% | volatile oil |
| 176 mg | Calcium, Ca |
| 1.46 g | Fatty acids, total saturated |
| 191 mg | Magnesium, Mg |
| 296 mg | Phosphorus, P |
| 770 mg | Potassium, K |
Fenugreek oil contains many important elements as a high percentage of protein, high amounts of the a-amino acid Lysine, free amino acids, and vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B (Thiamine), vitamin E, and vitamin C, and it also contains many minerals such as Phosphorous, Calcium, Iron, and Sodium.
Physical properties of the fixed oil which extracted from the fenugreek:
The Physical and chemical characterization of Fenugreek seed oil the Specific density about 30.9 g/cm, Refractive index 1.474-1.475, Viscosity 16.15 /poise, Total Acidity 6.732 mg NaOH/ goil, Saponification Value 0.2, Iodine Number 130-140, Peroxide Number 0.5 mlg/100gm, Ash Ratio 3.12%, Humidity 1.75% and TBA 0.5.
| Feature | Value |
| Density | 30.9 g/cm |
| Viscosity | 16.15 /poise |
| Acid Number | 6.732 mg NaOH/ goil |
| Saponification Value | 0.2 |
| Peroxide Number | 0.5 mlg/100gm |
| Refractive Index | 1.474-1.475 |
| Ash Ratio | 3.12% |
| Humidity | 1.75% |
| Free Fatty Acids | 3.4 |
Chemical properties of the Fenugreek seed oil
| Analysis | Value |
| Total Acidity as oleic acid % | 0.34-0.39 |
| Saponification Number | 177.5-184 |
| Iodine Number | 130-140 |
| Peroxide value mg/ kg | 8-10 |
| TBA | 0.5 |
Fatty acid composition of total lipids of fenugreek:
Fatty acids composition of fenugreek seed oils is presented
in Table The major fatty acids represented in Linoleic Acid
C18:2 (35-40%), linolenic acid (28%) and Oleic Acid C18:1(18.5-20%)
| Fatty acid | % |
| Lauric acid C12:0 | – |
| Myristic acid C14:0 | 0.2 |
| Palmitic acid C16:0 | 10.5 – 12 |
| Stearic Acid C18:0 | 0.1 – 0.2 |
| Oleic Acid C18:1 | 18.5 – 20 |
| Linoleic Acid C18:2 | 35 – 40 |
| linolenic acid C18:3 | 28 |
| Arachidic acid C20:0 | 1.25 – 1.7 |
| Gadoleic acid C20:1 | 1 |
| Behenic acid C22:0 | 1.5 |
| Total Lipids = 8.4% |
Fenugreek oil benefits:
Fenugreek oil has many uses where the fenugreek is used in food, also it has many medicinal uses as a treatment for constipation, diabetes patients, and for Menstrual Cycle pain. fenugreek seeds and fenugreek oil are also used in the production of fish bait in the form of protein balls
fenugreek oils exert protective effects on the mucosa in ulcer disease and prevent colon cancer.
Fenugreek has many health benefits, plus aesthetic properties as well, the fenugreek oil has organic properties and nutritional value that help to improve health and fight various problems, as it contains vitamin A, B and D, Biotin, Choline, and Iron.
Because it has anti-virus properties, so the body gains immunity against it, and it has been used since ancients in traditional medicine.
Fenugreek oil consists of the fenugreek itself, so the benefits of fenugreek oil may be the same as those of fenugreek.
These benefits are:
1- Benefits of fenugreek oil for hair:
One of the benefits of fenugreek oil is that it improves hair growth, lengthens it, and protects it from dryness and breakage. This oil acts as a sterilizer for dandruff when the scalp is massaged by it.
Fenugreek oil contains lecithin, which increases the gloss of the hair and moisturizes it, and maintains its vitality and health. This oil prevents hair loss, and fenugreek oil can reduce baldness. Fenugreek oil is an anti-baldness and prevents hair loss because it is a good source of protein and nicotinic acid.
It activates the blood circulation in the scalp, and that increases the nutrition of the roots.
One of the most important fenugreek oil benefits for hair is its treatment for thinning hair. It not only treats hair loss and growth it quickly but also increases the thickness of hair and intensifies it quickly, especially if you keep using and inter it into hair mixtures to be thick and growth acceleration with other natural ingredients, such as Olive, Castor, Coconut, Almond Oils. Fenugreek oil contains many elements that accelerate hair growth, such as vitamin K, A, and C, which are important to give hair the nutrition needed for growth and rich in antioxidants that promote hair growth in general.
2- Regulating blood sugar:
Fenugreek oil helps to regulate the level of sugar in the blood, especially for diabetics, and it may benefit type 1 and type 2 diabetics as well, by reducing Glucose absorption from the intestine and increasing the response to the insulin hormone, some doctors believe that the reason is that fenugreek seeds contain fibers in large amount that help regulate blood sugar.
3- Breast augmentation and sagging treatment
It is considered one of the effective natural ways to tighten breasts and to increase their size, as the fenugreek oil is mixed with another oil such as coconut oil or sesame oil, and the breasts are gently massaged without oil touching the nipples.
Users of fenugreek oil for breast enlargement suggest how to use it as the following:
- Warm the oil as room temperature or some warmer.
- Put the oil on the breasts.
- Massage the breasts in circular movements from the outside to the inside of the breast.
- Continuing the massage process for 20 to 23 minutes daily to increase the blood flow to the breast area and gradually increase its size.
4- Increasing breast milk production for mothers:
As it is known breast milk is the important food source for the baby at the beginning of his life, and some mothers may suffer from a lack of milk, studies have found that the use of fenugreek increases the amount of milk, they were found that drinking three cups of fenugreek tea per day during two weeks increases the flow of milk.
It also has a role in getting rid of clogged milk ducts by its anti-inflammatory properties.
5-Respiratory health:
Fenugreek oil contains anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Fenugreek oil is applied to the chest and left on the skin until absorbed. Its aromatic properties give a sense of comfort, it is also an expectorant, clear phlegm, and reduce nasal congestion. It can be treated by inhalation by a vaporizer.
6- Increased testosterone in men:
Testosterone is one of the most important sex hormones for men, and it may be present in small quantities in women’s bodies. It is responsible for the changes that occur to boys during puberty, like voice change and hair growth on the body.
Studies have found that fenugreek oil works to increase testosterone hormone in men, and thus it improves sexual desire in men and increases their sperm count.
7- Benefits of fenugreek oil for the face:
There are two types of fenugreek oil, the first one is pressed fenugreek oil, which is a mixture of fatty acids and is beneficial for the body.
The other type is fenugreek essential oil, which contains volatile compounds and antioxidants, which makes it have multiple benefits, so, it is used widely and popularly.
Fenugreek oil has many benefits that help to treat problems and blemishes in the skin, including the following:
- The content of fenugreek oil and its antioxidant properties helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and premature signs of aging.
- Fenugreek oil works to treat skin infections and get rid of pimples that constantly appear on the face skin, some areas of the body, also get rid of boils. Also treat skin eczema that may appear on the skin of the hands and feet, treat skin burns and get rid of its effects and mitigate it, re-produce new, healthy and fresh skin cells and treat cracks that appear on the feet.
- Fenugreek oil is an ideal natural moisturizer for the skin. It contains a high amount of lecithin, which is an ideal moisturizer for the skin, and also helps to increase the rate of blood flow in the tissues, which promotes the renewal of skin cells.
8-Benefits of fenugreek oil for the face, they are as follows:
- Reducing acne scars:
Fenugreek is known for its ability to reduce the effects of acne, treat the inflammation caused by it, and cool down the face from it, due to the fact that it has sterilized properties and contains antibiotics that reduce inflammation and protect the skin from dehydration by keeping its moisture and cleanliness.
Fenugreek oil helps purify the skin from pimples by applying a few drops of fenugreek oil on the affected area, to improve skin healing from acne and prevent pimples from appearing on it.
- Fenugreek oil to moisturize the skin;
Fenugreek oil can be used to get rid of dry skin and keep its moisture, by using this topical oil for the skin, adding it to a spoon of yogurt, and applying it on the skin.
You can also make a mask for the skin using fenugreek oil to increase its moisture and cleanliness by mixing an equal amount of fenugreek oil with vitamin E oil, plus a spoon of yogurt, then put the mixture on the skin or face.
Fenugreek oil side effects
Possible harm to pregnant and breastfeeding women, as fenugreek oil contains compounds that may have an effect on body hormones.
Allergic symptoms appeared when used by people allergic to the fenugreek plant.
Diabetics: fenugreek may affect blood sugar levels, so it is important for diabetics to watch their sugar levels and signs of its low if fenugreek is used.
Increased sweating levels: using fenugreek oil in large amounts causes an increase in the levels of body sweating, plus a sweet smell.
Digestive problems: taking fenugreek oil can lead to disturbances in intestine movement and increase the chances of diarrhea, bloating, and gas.