ABSTRACT
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) have drawn a lot of interest because of their possible diverse uses. It is mostly cultivated in Asia and Africa, it is mostly used as a spice for cooking and it has other health benefits too. The aim of this research is to determine the phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds, offering light on their bioactive components and nutritional makeup. For the aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds, proximate analysis for the moisture content was 18.91 ± 0.089%, 4.813 ± 0.002 for ash content, 4.477 ± 0.252 for crude fat, 26.984 ± 0.274 for crude protein, 5.334 ± 0.192 for crude fibre, and 58.390 ± 0.188 for carbohydrates content. These components provide vital details about the seed's potential for usage in food and industry. Phytochemical screening indicated that the aqueous extract of fenugreek seeds contained glycosides, saponins, phenols, eugenols, terpenoids, reducing sugars, alkaloids and flavonoids but steroids and tannins were absent. While the ethanolic extract contained glycosides, phenolics, eugenols, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and flavonoids but tannins, saponins and reducing sugars were absent. While the result for the ethanolic extract showed that glycosides, phenols, eugenols, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and flavonoids were present, but saponins, tannins and reducing sugars were absent. These compounds help to explain how the seeds may have positive health impacts. The results of the proximate analysis and phytochemical screening taken together, highlight the nutritional and medicinal potential of fenugreek seeds. The result from this study showed that fenugreek seed contain high amounts of proteins, they can be introduced into our diet, and economically, because it is cheap and affordable fenugreek seeds can be used as a cheap source of proteins while cooking.
