EFFECTS OF A FENUGREEK SEED EXTRACT ON FEEDING-BEHAVIOR IN THE RAT - METABOLIC-ENDOCRINE CORRELATES

Fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) are assumed to have res torative and nutritive properties. The present work was designed to in vestigate the effects of a fenugreek seed extract on feeding behaviour . Experiments were performed to determine food consumption and motivat ion to eat as well as metabolic-endocrine changes in chronically treat ed animals. Male Wistar rats were given the seed extract orally (10 an d 100 mg/day per 300 g body weight), mixed together with food, and con trol animals were monitored in parallel. The results show that chronic oral administration of the fenugreek extract significantly increases food intake and the motivation to eat. The treatment, however, does no t prevent the anorexia nor the decreased motivation to eat induced by d-fenfluramine (2 mg/kg, IP). An increase in plasma insulin and a decr ease in total cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-low- density lipoprotein (LDL) total cholesterol were also observed. In con clusion, chronic administration of a fenugreek seed extract enhances f ood consumption and motivation to eat in rats and also induces hyperin sulinemia as well as hypocholesterolemia.