Antioxidative Activity of Fenugreek Seed Extracts Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on research into the antioxidant and phytochemical properties of fenugreek seed extracts.

Trigonella foenum-graecum

The botanical name for Fenugreek, an annual herb belonging to the family Leguminosae widely grown in Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Middle Eastern countries.

Galactagogue

A milk-producing agent; fenugreek seeds are used by nursing mothers to increase breast milk supply.

Soxhlet Extraction

The method used to prepare crude extracts from fenugreek seeds involving continuous extraction with solvents of varying polarity.

Total Phenolic Content (TPC)

Phytochemicals measured via the Folin-Ciocalteu method, expressed as gallic acid equivalents using the equation $A = 0.1786 C - 0.1739$.

Total Flavonoid Content (FC)

A class of antioxidant phytochemicals measured using aluminum chloride ($AlCl_3$) and expressed as quercetin equivalents ($μg/g$).

DPPH˚

1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, a stable free radical used in assays to evaluate the radical scavenging capacity of antioxidants.

Chelating Activity

The capacity to bind transition metals ($Fe^{2+}$), which reduces lipid peroxidation; measured using a $2,2'-bipyridyl$ competition assay and expressed as $Na_2EDTA$ equivalents.

Reducing Power Ability (RPA)

An antioxidant parameter where the reduction of potassium ferricyanide is monitored; increased absorbance at $700\,nm$ indicates higher antioxidant potential.

Haematinic Value

The property of aiding in blood formation, a benefit of including fenugreek leaves and seeds in the diet.

Percent Yield

The weight of the extract relative to the seed weight; ethanol and methanol showed the highest percentages at $25.32\%$ and $25.89\%$ respectively.

BHA

Butylated hydroxyanisole, a known standard reducing agent compared against the fenugreek extracts in terms of antioxidant power.

DPPH Scavenging Calculation

Formula used to determine the percentage of radicals remaining: $\% \text{ of DPPH remaining} = [DPPH]_T / [DPPH]_{T=0} \times 100$.