ABSTRACT

Plant gums are defined as those substances of plant origin that are obtained as exudations from the fruits, trunks, or branches of trees spontaneously after the mechanical injury of the plant by the incision of the barks or by the removal of a branch or after invasion by bacteria or fungi. Fenugreek seed gum (FSG) is a soluble fiber obtained from the seeds of a legume plant, Trigonella foenum-graecum, which is commonly grown worldwide and predominantly in India. FSG, a complex polysaccharide, is made up of galactose and mannose. The molecular weight of FSG was also determined along with other reported gums like locust bean gum and guar gum with the help of HPSEC coupled with refractive index, viscosity, and right angle laser light-scattering detectors. FSG has been reported for its inhibitory effect on the digestive enzymes related to diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and liver-kidney dysfunctions.