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LWT - Food Science and Technology 44 (2011) 451e456

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

LWT - Food Science and Technology

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/lwt

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the husk and endosperm of

fenugreek seeds
M. Madhava Naidu*, B.N. Shyamala, J. Pura Naik, G. Sulochanamma, P. Srinivas
Plantation Products, Spices and Flavour Technology, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Council of Scientic and Industrial Research, Mysore 570020, India

a r t i c l e i n f o

a b s t r a c t

Article history:
Received 10 February 2010
Received in revised form
17 August 2010
Accepted 17 August 2010

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is used as a spice, vegetable and a medicinal plant. In the present
study, fenugreek seeds were separated into husk and endosperm. The proximate composition of fenugreek seeds, husk and cotyledons showed that endosperm had the highest saponin (4.63 g/100 g) and
protein (43.8 g/100 g) content. In contrast, husk had higher total polyphenols (103.8 mg of gallic acid
equivalent/g, and TDF (77.1 g/100 g), comprising IDF (31.9 g/100 g) and SDF (45.2 g/100 g). At 200 mg
concentration, extracts of husk, fenugreek seed, and endosperm exhibited 72%, 64%, and 56% antioxidant
activity respectively by free-radical scavenging method. The study indicated that separation of fenugreek
seeds into husk and endosperm could have advantage of process viability with respect to prior selective
fractionation of bioactive components for their effective isolation.
2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords:
Fenugreek
Husk
Endosperm
Antioxidant activity
Polyphenols
Dietary ber

1. Introduction
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a member of the legume
family, also known as methi, Greek hayseed, and birds foot. Fenugreek is originally from southeastern Europe and western Asia, but
today it is grown in many parts of the world, including India, northern
Africa, and the United States (Altuntas, Engin Ozgoz, & Taser, 2005).
Fenugreek is known for its pleasantly bitter, slightly sweet seeds. The
seeds, available in whole and ground form, are used to avor many
foods including curry powders, spice blends and teas. The fenugreek
seed contains a central hard, yellow embryo surrounded by
a corneous and comparatively large layer of white, semi-transparent
endosperm (Betty, 2008), which contains the galactomannan gum.
Emulsion and rheological properties of galactomannans of fenugreek
are reported (Wu, Cui, Eskin, & Goff, 2009). A tenacious and darkbrown husk surrounds the endosperm. The color of the gum fraction
depends upon the amount of outer husk (brown color) and cotyledon
(yellow color) present. Fenugreek is known to have several pharmacological effects such as hypoglycemia (Sharma, Raghuram, & Rao,
1990; Zia, Nazrul Hasnain, & Hasan, 2001), hypocholesterolemia
(Stark & Madar, 1993; Srinivasan, 2006), gastroprotective (Suja

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 91 821 2512352 (O), 91 821 2413069 (R); fax:
91 821 2517233.
E-mail address: madhavanaidu45@yahoo.com (M. Madhava Naidu).
0023-6438/$ e see front matter 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2010.08.013

Pandian, Anuradha, & Viswanathan, 2002), chemopreventive

(Amin, Aysha Alkaabi, Shamaa Al-Falasi, & Sayel Daoud, 2005), antioxidant (Hettiarachchy, Glenn, Gnanasambandam, & Johnson, 1996;
Kavirasan, Naik, Gangabhagirathi, Anuradha, & Priyadarsini, 2007),
anti-inammatory, antipyretic (Ahmadiani, Javan, Semnanian, Barat,
& Kamalinejad, 2001), laxative (Riad & El-Baradie, 1959) and appetite stimulation (Petit et al., 1993) attributes. This plant is known to
contain alkaloids (Jain & Madhu, 1988), avonoids (Kamal & Yadav,
1991), salicylate (Swain, Dutton, & Truswell, 1985), and nicotinic
acid (Rajalakshmi, Nanavaty, & Gumashta, 1964).
Dietary ber consisting of non-digestible carbohydrates and
lignin that are intrinsic and intact in traditional plants, has received
much attention due to its health benets (Slavin, 2005; Kochar,
Nagi, & Sachdeva, 2006; Anderson et al., 2009). Soluble ber
lowers serum cholesterol and helps to reduce the risk of heart
attack and colon cancer. It dissolves in the gut to form a viscous gel
that lowers the absorption of released glucose. Consumption of
dietary ber is shown to reduce the risk of diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and obesity (Chau & Huang,
2004). Soluble and insoluble dietary bers are the storage and
cell wall polysaccharides of plants that cannot be hydrolyzed by
human digestive enzymes. A ber rich meal is metabolized more
slowly and nutrient absorption occurs over a longer period (Jenkins
et al., 1993). They have been reported to decrease the absorption of
carbohydrates and reduce post-prandial serum glucose levels
(Ou, Kwok, Li, & Fu, 2001). Optimal intake of total dietary ber

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M. Madhava Naidu et al. / LWT - Food Science and Technology 44 (2011) 451e456

reduces the risk of obesity, blood pressure, appendicitis and many

other diseases (Rehiman, Rashid, & Shah, 2004). Further, a diet that
provides adequate ber is usually less energy dense and larger in
volume and thus may bring a feeling of satiety sooner (Saris, 2003).
Indeed the, National Advisory Committee in Great Britain has recommended a ber intake of 25e30 g/day per person (Dashti, AlAwadi, Khalafawi, Sawaya, & Al Amiri, 2003). The total dietary
ber content of infant foods plays a central role in meeting the
recommendations [19 g/day] as well as stabilizing the intestinal
population by stimulating the proliferation of bacteria capable of
digesting dietary ber and lowering the colonic pH (Brooks,
Mongeau, Deeks, Lampi, & Brassard, 2006). Cereal brans are used
as a source of dietary ber, but alternative sources of dietary ber
and data on their nutritional input is also required. Spices are
reported to contain 15e55% crude ber and, except for a few, scanty
information is available on dietary ber of spices.
Though there are several studies on the medicinal properties of
fenugreek seeds, their antioxidant abilities have not been examined
separately with respect to fenugreek husk and cotyledon fractions.
Objective of this study was to isolate and investigate the signicance of fenugreek husk as a source of antioxidants as well as dietary ber. It was envisaged that information on the total phenolics
and antioxidant activities of different fractions of fenugreek and
their individual phenolic compounds could be helpful in their
application to retard or prevent lipid oxidation in a variety of food
products. The aim of the present investigation was (i) to isolate and
characterize the functional components from fenugreek fractions
and (ii) to study their antioxidant properties.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Materials
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds used in the
present study were procured from Rajasthan, India through a wellestablished indigenous supplier. Linoleic acid, 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), b-carotene, potassium ferricyanide, trichloroacetic acid, BHA (Butylated hydroxyl anisole), and ferric chloride
were purchased from SigmaeAldrich. All the solvents/chemicals
used were of analytical grade and obtained from SD Fine Chemicals,
Mumbai, India.
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Separation of husk and endosperm
The fenugreek seeds were milled in a laboratory plate mill
(1440 rpm) to obtain mixture containing husk and endosperm.
Husk was separated from endosperm by sieving (British standard
Sieve, size 10 equivalents to aperture size of 1.70 mm.) and used for
the studies. AOAC methods (1995) were followed for determining
the proximate composition viz., moisture, fat and ash content of the
fenugreek seeds and fractions viz., husk and endosperm.
2.2.2. Moisture
Milled fenugreek samples were accurately weighed in an
aluminum dish and dried overnight (about 16 h) in an oven at 72  C.
It was covered and cooled in a desiccator and then weighed. Sample
was further dried for 2 h and reweighed until a constant weight was
obtained.
2.2.3. Crude fat
The crude fat was determined by extracting the sample in
a Soxhlet apparatus for 16 h using petroleum ether. The solvent was
evaporated and the residue was weighed to determine the fat
content.

2.2.4. Total ash

About 5 g of the sample was weighed accurately into a platinum
(or porcelain) crucible and heated rst over a low ame till all the
materials were completely charred and then heated in a mufe
furnace to a constant weight to ensure complete conversion to ash.

Ash contentg=100 g sample

Weight of the ash

Weight of the sample taken
 100

2.2.5. Total proteins

The estimation of nitrogen was done by Kjeldahl method
wherein the protein content was obtained by multiplying the
nitrogen value with 6.25.
2.2.5.1. Reagents. Digestion mixture, 40% NaOH, 0.1 mol equi/L
NaOH, 0.1 mol equi/L H2SO4, methyl red indicator.
2.2.5.2. Procedure. The sample (1 g) was weighed into a dry Kjeldahl ask. About 2 g of digestion mixture and 20 mL of pure conc.
H2SO4 were added to the same sample and the mixture digested by
heating for 4e5 h. Glass beads were added to prevent bumping.
After the contents of the ask became clear, the digestion was
continued for at least 1 h. The contents of the Kjeldahl ask were
cooled, diluted with distilled water and the mixture made alkaline
by adding excess of 40% NaOH (about 75 mL). A small quantity of
pumice powder was added to prevent bumping during distillation.
The ammonia liberated was distilled into a receiver containing
25 mL of 0.1 mol equi/L H2SO4. The excess of acid in the receiver was
back-titrated against 0.1 mol equi/L NaOH using 3 drops of methyl
red indicator. A reagent blank was similarly digested and distilled.
This titer value was subtracted from the value obtained for the
sample to get the true titer value b.

Protein content in g=100 g sample

c  b  14 d  6:25  100=a  1000
where a g of the sample taken and if b and c mL of alkali of
normality d required for back-titration and to neutralize 25 mL of
0.1 mol equi/L H2SO4 respectively.
2.2.6. Dietary ber
The total dietary ber (TDF), a measure of the sum of insoluble
and soluble dietary ber, based on digestion of food samples (1 g)
with enzymes, was determined as described by Asp, Johnos,
Hollmer, and Slijestrom (1983).
2.2.6.1. Reagents. 0.1 mol/L Sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.0;
4 mol/L HCl; 4 mol/L NaOH; 95% ethanol, technical grade; 78%
ethanol and acetone AR grade.
2.2.6.2. Enzymes. Termamyl 60 L (a higher grade, 120 L is now
available and preferred); pepsin NF; Pancreatin 4  NF.
2.2.6.3. Procedure. 1 g of defatted sample was weighed with 0.1 mg
accuracy (W) and transferred to an Earlenmeyer ask. Sodium
phosphate buffer (0.1 mol/L, pH 6.0, 25 mL) was added and the
contents were mixed thoroughly. Termamyl (100 mL) was added.
Flask was covered with Al lm and incubated in a boiling water
bath for 15 min (with occasional shaking). Contents were allowed
to cool, distilled water (20 mL) was added and the pH was adjusted
to 1.5 with HCl. 100 mg of pepsin was added and the ask was
covered, incubated in water bath maintained at 40  C with agitation
for 60 min. Distilled water (20 mL) was then added and pH adjusted
to 6.8 with NaOH. 100 mg of pancreatin was added and the ask

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453

incubated in water bath again at 40  C with agitation for further

60 min. The pH adjusted to 4.5 with HCl. Precipitate was ltered
through a dry and weighed crucible (porosity 2) containing 0.5 g of
dry celite (exact weight known) as the lter aid and washed with
2  10 mL of distilled water.

of water, and washed with 100 mL water and 100 mL 40% methanol
successively. Saponin was eluted with 100 mL 95% methanol
solution. The solvent in the saponin fraction was removed under
reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved with methanol and
made up to 20 mL for the hydrolysis step.

2.2.6.4. Residue (insoluble ber). Residue was washed with

2  10 mL of 95% ethanol and 2  10 mL of acetone. Residue was
dried at 105  C to constant weight (or overnight). It was weighed
after cooling in a desiccator (D1), then incinerated at 550  C for 5 h
and weighed, after cooling in a desiccator (I1).

2.4.2. Hydrolysis
Methanolic solution of saponin (5e20 mL) was placed in a short
neck Kjeldhal ask. Methanol was removed under reduced pressure. HCl (2 mL/L, 10 mL) and ethanol (10 mL) were added to the
residue and hydrolyzed for 3 h at 90  C, cooled, and extracted twice
with diethyl ether (80 mL). The saponin fraction in the ether layer
was washed with water (20 mL) and organic layer dried over
anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was removed under reduced
pressure and the residue, which contained sapogenin was dissolved
with ethyl acetate and made upto 10 mL for spectrophotometric
assay.

2.2.6.5. Filtrate (soluble ber). Volume of the combined ltrate and

washings was made up to 100 mL with water. Warm (60  C) 95%
ethanol (400 mL) was added and allowed to precipitate for 1 h,
ltered through a dried and weighed crucible (porosity 2) containing 0.5 g celite. The residue washed with 78% ethanol
(2  10 mL), followed by 96% ethanol (2  10 mL), and acetone
(2  10 mL). The precipitate was dried at 105  C overnight cooled in
a desiccator and weighed (D2). It was then incinerated at 550  C for
5 h, cooled in a desiccator and then weighed (I2).
2.2.6.6. Blank. Insoluble and soluble blank values were obtained by
running the procedure without sample (B1 and B2).
2.2.6.7. Calculation. W Sample weight (g). D weight after
drying (g). I Weight after incineration (g). B weight of ash free
blank (g).

Insoluble dietary fiber IDF

Soluble dietary fiber SDF

D1  I1  B1
 100
W

D 2  I 2  B2
 100
W

2.4.3. Spectrophotometric determination

Color developing reagent solutions (A) 0.5 mL p-anisaldehyde
and 99.5 mL ethyl acetate and (B) 50 mL concentrated sulfuric acid
and 50 mL ethyl acetate were prepared. The ethyl acetate solution
containing sapogenin was diluted with ethyl acetate to contain
2.5e10 mg/mL sapogenins. Two mL diluted sapogenin solution was
placed in a 10 mL test tube. One mL each of reagent solutions (A)
and (B) were added and the test tube sealed with a glass stopper.
After stirring, the test tube was placed in a water bath maintained
at 60  C for 10 min in a water point maintained at room temperature. The absorbance of the solution was measured with ethyl
acetate as blank. As a reagent blank, 2 mL ethyl acetate was placed
in a test tube and assayed in a similar way as the sapogenin solution. Solutions containing standard sapogenin (2e40 mg) in ethyl
acetate (2 mL) were used to obtain a calibration curve.
2.5. Determination of polyphenols

2.3. Preparation of antioxidant conserves

Fenugreek seeds, husk and endosperm were grinded using lab
grinder and powder obtained was passed through passed through
30 mesh (500 mm) sieve. This powder was used as the raw material
for preparation of extracts. These samples, 100 g each, were loaded
into separate glass columns and extracted with selected solvents, at
a material to solvent ratio of 1:10 solvent mixtures of ethanol and
water. Fenugreek extract at different proportions of ethanol and
water (40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 70:30) were employed and the
extracts were analyzed for their constituents. The data indicated
that the highest level of extracts yield and polyphenols obtained
with ethanol plus water mixture in 70:30 ratio, which was used for
further studies. The solvent was added in 10 installments of 100 mL
each allowing 30 min contact time over a period of 5 h. The extracts
were drained and pooled. The pooled extracts were concentrated
using rotavapor at 50  C under reduced pressure (40 mbar) and the
product stored at 4  C. Recovery of extracts with reference to yield
of conserves, and polyphenol content were determined.
2.4. Determination of saponins
2.4.1. Sample preparation
Fenugreek samples were analyzed for saponin content according to the method of Yoko, Keiko, and Kazuo (2000). Twenty mL of
HP-20 resin was soaked in methanol overnight and packed in
a glass column of 15 mm diameter with methanol. The resin was
washed with 100 mL methanol and 200 mL water successively.
Fenugreek sample was charged to the column with a small amount

Samples were analyzed for total polyphenol content according

to the Folin-Ciocalteu method (Singleton & Rossi, 1965). A known
concentration of the extract was dissolved in water. A 0.5 mL
aliquot of the resulting solution was added to 0.2 mL of Folin-Ciocalteau reagent, and a saturated solution of Na2CO3 (0.5 mL) was
added. This was diluted to 10 mL with distilled water and incubated
at 27  C for 1 h. Optical density was measured at 765 nm using
a spectrophotometer. The concentration was calculated using gallic
acid as a standard, and the results were expressed as gallic acid
equivalents per gram of extract.
2.6. Antioxidant activity
2.6.1. b-caroteneelinoleate model system
The antioxidant activity of fenugreek seed, husk and endosperm
extracts was evaluated by the b-carotene method (Adegako et al.,
1998). b-Carotene (0.2 mg) in 0.2 mL of chloroform, linoleic
acid (20 mg), and Tween-40 (polyoxyethylenesorbitan monopalmitate) (200 mg) were mixed. Chloroform was removed at 40  C
under reduced pressure (40 mmHg), and the resulting mixture was
diluted with 10 mL of water and mixed well. To this emulsion
was added 40 mL of oxygenated water. Aliquots (4 mL) of the
emulsion were transferred into different test tubes containing
0.2 mL solutions of fenugreek extracts and BHA of different
concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg). A control containing 0.2 mL of
ethanol and 4 mL of the above emulsion was prepared. The tubes
were placed in a water bath maintained at 50  C, and the absorbance was measured at 470 nm at zero time (t 0). Measurement
of absorbance was continued until the color of the b-carotene

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Table 1
Proximate chemical composition of fenugreek seeds, husk and endosperm.
Samples

Moisture
content (g/100 g)

Total Ash
(g/100 g)

Protein (g/100 g)

Fat (g/100 g)

Soluble dietary
ber (g/100 g)

Insoluble dietary
ber (g/100 g)

Fenugreek
Husk
Endosperm

11.44  0.01
11.53  0.01
10.78  0.02

3.9  0.14
2.17  0.03
4.58  0.14

27.57  0.09
7.9  0.10
43.78  0.16

6.71  0.01
1.30  0.07
6.59  0.01

30.6  0.14
45.2  0.14
20.75  0.07

20.6  0.14
31.9  0.14
13.57  0.14

Mean values of ve readings with three replications.

Values are expressed as mean  standard deviation.

disappeared in the control tubes (t 180 min) at intervals of

15 min. A mixture prepared as above without b-carotene served as
the blank. All determinations were carried out in triplicate. The
antioxidant activity (AA) of the extracts was evaluated in terms of
bleaching of the b-carotene using the following formula: AA 100
1  A0  At =A00  A0t , where A0 and A00 are the absorbance
values measured at zero time of the incubation for test sample and
control, respectively, and At and A0t are the absorbance values
measured in the test sample and control, respectively, after incubation for 180 min.
2.6.2. Free-radical scavenging activity
Free-radical scavenging activity was measured by DPPH (1,1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) method (Oktay, Culcin, & Kufrevioglu,
2003). Different concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg) of fenugreek extracts were taken in different test tubes. The volume was
adjusted to 1000 mL by adding MeOH. Methanolic solution of DPPH
(0.1 mM, 4 mL) was added to these test tubes and shaken vigorously. The tubes were then incubated in the dark at room
temperature for 20 min. A control sample was prepared as above
without extract and methanol, which was used for the baseline
correction. Changes in the absorbance of the samples were
measured at 517 nm. All analyses were run in triplicate and the
values averaged. Radical scavenging activity was expressed as the
inhibition percentage calculated using the formula:

Radical scavenging activity %

Control OD  Sample OD=Control OD  100:

fenugreek seed, husk and endosperm is presented in Table 1.

Moisture content of samples ranged from 10.78 to 11.53 g/100 g,
which is optimum for storage of spices. Total ash content was
slightly higher in endosperm (4.58 g/100 g) followed by whole
fenugreek (3.9 g/100 g) and husk (2.17 g/100 g). Protein content was
high in endosperm (43.78 g/100 g) compared to husk (7.9 g/100 g).
The husk showed lower fat content (1.3 g/100 g) compared to
endosperm (6.5 g/100 g). Fenugreek husk was rich in total dietary
ber (TDF, 77.1 g/100 g) of which soluble (SDF) and insoluble dietary bers (IDF) were 45.2 and 31.9 g/100 g respectively. The
endosperm was relatively low in ber with respective TDF of 34.32,
SDF and IDF values being 20.75 and 13.57 respectively. Comparison
of these values with that of total fenugreek seeds clearly indicated
fenugreek husk is the main source for ber.
The yield of the aqueous ethanolic extract of husk, endosperm
and whole fenugreek seeds were found to be 14.84, 36.56 and
22.63 g/100 g respectively. The husk showed lowest content of
saponins (1.12 g/100 g) followed by endosperm (4.63 g/100 g) and
fenugreek seeds (5.12 g/100 g). The total polyphenol content of
fenugreek seeds, husk and endosperm was 85.88  0.01,
103.88  0.01, 65.81  0.007, respectively, as gallic acid equivalents
(Table 2). Earlier studies by Gupta and Nair (1999) showed that the
fenugreek seeds were rich in avonoids (>100 mg/g). It is known
that the antioxidant activity of plants is due to phenolic and
avonoid compounds present in them (Cook & Samman, 1996;
Tung, Wu, Kuo, & Chang, 2007). Therefore, phenolic contents of
different fractions clearly showed that fenugreek husk abounded in
phenolic constituents and this was also substantiated by higher
antioxidant activity of its extracts in different assays.

2.7. Statistical analysis

3.2. b-caroteneelinoleate model system

The data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance

(ANOVA) to study the differences in the antioxidant activity of
extracts prepared from husk and endosperm and between the
concentrations. Probability level was xed to P < 0.05. The analyses
were carried out using Microsoft Excel XP.

The mechanism of bleaching of b-carotene is a free-radical

mediated phenomenon resulting from the hydroperoxides formed
from linoleic acid. b-carotene in this model system undergoes rapid
discoloration in the absence of an antioxidant. The linoleic acid free
radical formed upon the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from one of
its diallylic methylene groups attacks the highly unsaturated
b-carotene molecules. As b-carotene molecules lose their double
bonds by oxidation, the compound loses its chromophore and
characteristic orange color, which can be monitored spectrophotometrically. The presence of different extracts can hinder the extent
of b-carotene bleaching by neutralizing the linoleate free radical and
other free radicals formed in the system. The antioxidant activity of

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Proximate composition
The yields of husk and endosperm separated from fenugreek
seeds were 45 and 55 g/100 g respectively. Proximate analysis of

Table 2
Yield, Saponin and Polyphenols content of fenugreek seeds, husk and endosperm.
Samples

Fractions Yield
(g/100 g)

Extract Yield
(g/100 g)

Saponin
(g/100 g)

Total Polyphenols (mg of gallic

acid equivalents/g of sample)

Fenugreek
Husk
Endosperm

e
45
55

22.63  0.01
14.84  0.01
36.56  0.01

5.12  0.01
1.12  0.01
4.63  0.01

85.88  0.01
103.88  0.01
65.81  0.01

Values are expressed as mean  standard deviation.

Mean values of ve readings with three replications.

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455

the samples were not signicant as per analysis of variance

(F 0.2517 ns). The antioxidant activity appears to be directly
correlated to the polyphenol contents of fenugreek fractions; thus,
the husk showed higher activity as compared to the fenugreek
seeds and endosperm. The inuence of fenugreek seed powder
supplementation in the diet on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant
status has been studied in alloxan-diabetic rats (Anuradha &
Ravikumar, 2001). The activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase,
superoxidase dismutase and glutathione peroxidase as well as the
oxidative damage were examined in the tissues of diabetic rats
treated with fenugreek (Genet, Kale, & Baquer, 2002). Several
health benecial attributes of the fenugreek have been experimentally evidenced in recent decades, demonstrating the potential
of possible therapeutic applications of fenugreek.
4. Conclusions

fenugreek fractions as measured by the bleaching of b-carotene is

presented in Fig. 1. At 200 mg, fenugreek fractions viz., husk, fenugreek seeds, and endosperm exhibited 73%, 22%, and 6% activity in
comparison to corresponding values of 95% for BHA. The bleaching
capacity varied among the different fenugreek fractions. IC50 values
of fenugreek fractions were found to be 454 mg (whole fenugreek
extract) 136 mg (husk extract), and 1666 mg (endosperm extract). The
differences among the samples were found to be extremely significant as per analysis of variance (F 12.86647*** (P < 0.001)).

The distribution of phenolic acids and dietary ber content

varies clearly among the fenugreek seeds, husk and endosperm
fractions, with the husk containing the highest total level of dietary
ber and phenolic acids. On the other hand, the endosperm is
enriched in saponins and protein. Hence, separation of fenugreek
seeds into husk and endosperm affords advantage of process
viability for facile isolation of respective bioactive components. This
study also indicated that fenugreek husk, being a valuable source of
dietary ber and phenolic acids could be an effective source of
natural antioxidants and natural ingredients in functional foods.
Our ndings now provide a valuable basis for developing fenugreek
fractions as valuable food additives to enhance human nutrition via
their phenolic acids, dietary ber, saponins and protein.

3.3. Free-radical scavenging activity

Acknowledgements

Fenugreek extracts exhibited good free-radical scavenging

activities from 50 to 70% (Fig. 2), the activity increasing with higher
concentrations. Of the fractions, fenugreek husk exhibited the
highest activity followed by whole fenugreek seed and endosperm
extracts. This result indicated that the fenugreek fractions such as
husk had a noticeable effect on scavenging free radicals. From the
above results, it is clear by both assays that antioxidant activities
of different compounds vary to a large extent and the activity of
fenugreek fraction extract depends largely on the proportion of
various phenolic compounds present. The ability to scavenge DPPH
radical by fenugreek fractions was in the order of husk > whole
fenugreek seeds > endosperm. IC50 values of fenugreek fractions
were found to be 156 mg (whole fenugreek extract) 138 mg (husk
extract), and 178 mg (endosperm extract). The differences among

We thank Dr. V. Prakash Director, CFTRI, Mysore, India for his

keen interest in this work and the facilities provided. The nancial
support from CSIR, New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged.

Fig. 1. Antioxidant activity of fenugreek fraction extracts by b-carotene method.

Fig. 2. Radical scavenging activity of fenugreek fraction extracts by DPPH method.

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