What is it used for?
Source of antioxidants/Provides antioxidants [Source note 2].
Source of antioxidants/Provides antioxidants that help fight/protect (cell) against/reduce (the oxidative effect of/the oxidative damage caused by/cell damage caused by) free radicals [Source note 3].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine to help stimulate the appetite [Source note 4].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine (as a digestive tonic) to aid digestion [Source note 5].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve dyspepsia and gastritis [Source note 6].
Used in Herbal Medicine as a mild laxative [Source note 7].
Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine (as an expectorant) to help relieve excess mucous of the upper respiratory passages (anticatarrhal) [Source note 8].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine as a nutritive tonic [Source note 9].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine (as a galactogogue/lactogogue) to help promote milk production/secretion [Source note 10].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine as supportive therapy for the promotion of healthy glucose levels [Source note 11].
Used in Herbal Medicine to help reduce elevated blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemia) [Source note 12].
The above uses can be combined on the product label if from the same traditional or non-traditional system of medicine (e.g., Used in Herbal Medicine to help stimulate the appetite, as a digestive tonic to aid digestion, to help relieve dyspepsia and gastritis, and as a mild laxative).
For multi-ingredient products:
To prevent the product from being represented as a "traditional medicine", any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific active ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Fenugreek is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help stimulate the appetite).
When ALL of the active ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.
Who does this guide cover?
Adults 18 years and older
How is it taken?
Oral
Which forms are covered?
this reference excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.
Quantities
Antioxidants
Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)
Up to 30 grams of dried seeds, per day [Source note 13].
Other uses
Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)
2 - 30 grams of dried seeds, per day [Source note 14].
How is it used?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
How long is it used?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Warnings and precautions
Ask a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant [Source note 15].
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you have diabetes [Source note 16].
When should it be avoided?
No statement is required.
Possible side effects
No statement is required.
Storage
Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the applicable product regulations.
Preparation details
Ingredient identity, preparation requirements, and other details that define the scope of this guide.
Ingredients and preparations
| Proper name(s) | Common name(s) | Source information / Source material(s) | Source information / Part(s) | Source information / Preparation(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trigonella foenum-graecum |
| Trigonella foenum-graecum | Seed | Dry |
References: Proper name: USDA 2025; Common names: Gardner and McGuffin 2013; Source information: Bradley 2006; Blumenthal et al. 2000.
Other ingredients
Must be chosen from the current source ingredient database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.
Preparation and quality requirements
The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the source authority source’s product quality guidance.
The active ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the source ingredient database.
Guide change history
Updates to this SupplementSafety.org guide.
Minor updates
Updated guide wording, organization, and source presentation. Added our editorial change history.
Initial release
Initial SupplementSafety.org guide prepared from source reference material.
Validation: Not yet completed. Editorial updates do not constitute clinical validation.
Sources
Source information
This guide organizes source material about uses, preparations, amounts, and precautions. Read the conditions alongside each statement; the information may apply only to particular preparations or populations.
The source document includes supporting references. We have not independently summarized or assessed every cited study for this guide.
- Source document version
- May 29, 2026
- Source captured
- Aug 15, 2026
- Editorial work
- Editorial preparation. Independent clinical review has not been recorded for this guide.
Full citations are available through the link above. Verification is required to open them; reading this guide does not require verification.
Taking a medication too?
Explore our supplement–medication interaction checker. Its coverage and review status are shown with the results; a missing finding does not establish that a combination is safe.