STEROFEN
Fenugreek is a medicinal plant with divergent therapeutic
capabilities. Most of these are attributed to the components of the golden-yellow
seeds which are bitter to taste. By a patented solvent extraction method,
the protein-fiber complex has been isolated from the oleoresin which contains
the steroidal saponin, oils, alkaloids and wax fractions. By a simple differential
distillation, the fractions are separated to yield pure forms of Saponin-Alkaloid
mixture, the oils, and the wax.
Saponins are formed when a sapogenin is linked to
one or more sugar residue. There are several different saponins which occur
in fenugreek seeds and also in the foliage, diosgenin being the most predominant.
Sterofen is a solvent-free saponin-enriched fraction of fenugreek.
Saponins, in general, are bitter to taste, and behave
as soaps, form complexes with cholesterol and lipids, cause hemolysis in
vitro, solubilize various fatty substances, have antimicrobial activity
and exhibit cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity.
Fenugreek saponin-alkaloid fraction has been used
to enhance or inducing appetite, to facilitate digestion by increasing
acidity, result in cause weight-gain, reduce cholesterol levels without
affecting triglyceride levels, increase muscle-mass, and in diabetes, prevent
urinary loss of sugar. Fenugreek furostanol saponins are also shown to
cause release of luteinizing hormone, and testosterone which may explain
the weight-gain and increase in muscle-mass.
The anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol, and hormone-releasing
properties of fenugreek saponin-alkaloid fraction, in addition to weight-gain
effects, have stimulated interest in this group of phytoceuticals collectively
called herbal pro-estrogens. The saponins may have beneficial effects in
females, especially in menopause. There is reason to avoid such steroidal
saponins during menstruation and possibly during pregnancy because they
enhance the secretory activity in all exocrine organs. However, the same
property becomes useful in post-partum period as noted by the traditional
uses of fenugreek seeds was to enhance lactation.
Sterofen is oil-free, fat-free made from fenugreek
seeds by a patented (USPat 5658571 and others pending) process using non-toxic
solvents.
Sterofen Specifications