Fenugreek

Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum, is an annual plant in the bean family Fabaceae, which also includes beans, peas and peanuts, distinguished by its three small leaflets. Most likely originating in the Near East, fenugreek is now grown worldwide as a semiarid crop, and its leaves and seeds have been used as a culinary ingredient since ancient times, remaining common in dishes of the Indian subcontinent; used as a food ingredient in small quantities it is considered safe. It is also a common dietary supplement and has long been used in traditional medicine, though there is no significant clinical evidence that it has therapeutic effects, and it can increase the risk of allergic reactions in some people.