A Comparative Analytical and Clinical Study of Methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and Kasuri Methika (Trigonella corniculata) in the Management of Prameha (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus)

Abstract

Background: Prameha in Ayurveda involves derangement of Kapha, Meda, Kleda and Agni. This study compared Methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and Kasuri Methika (Trigonella corniculata) in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Sixty patients were studied in two groups of 30 each. Methika Choorna or Kasuri Methika Choorna was administered at 3 g twice daily for 60 days, with follow-up to day 90. Subjective parameter and objective parameter FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, FUS and PPUS were assessed. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement (p < 0.001). FBS, PPBS and HbA1c decreased from 153.66 ± 21.56, 246.34 ± 33.45 and 7.98 ± 1.18 to 128.38 ± 15.67 mg/dL, 201.41 ± 24.56 mg/dL and 6.85 ± 0.92%, respectively, with Methika. With Kasuri Methika, corresponding values decreased from 158.79 ± 23.34, 252.71 ± 35.67 and 8.12 ± 1.24 to 130.46 ± 18.92 mg/dL, 207.96 ± 27.45 mg/dL and 7.02 ± 0.98%. Overall improvement was 51.73% and 47.63%, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (p = 0.385). Conclusion: Both drugs significantly improved clinical and biochemical parameters of Prameha. Methika, showed slightly greater improvement, but neither drug demonstrated significant superiority.

Introduction

This study is a comparative clinical and analytical evaluation of Methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and Kasuri Methika (Trigonella corniculata) for managing Prameha, interpreted in the context of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The study connects T2DM with the Ayurvedic concept of Prameha, particularly Apathyanimittaja Prameha, emphasizing the role of unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, impaired metabolism, and factors involving Kapha, Meda, Kleda, and Agni. Methika was selected because of its traditional Ayurvedic use and reported Deepana, Pachana, Medohara, and Pramehaghna properties. Kasuri Methika was selected as a botanically related comparator, despite having less extensive documentation in classical Ayurvedic literature.

Aim and Objectives

The main aim was to compare the analytical properties, safety, and clinical efficacy of the two Trigonella species in patients with Prameha/T2DM. The study also aimed to:

• Authenticate both drugs pharmacognostically.
• Compare their phytochemical and TLC profiles.
• Prepare standardized seed powder (Choorna).
• Evaluate changes in Ayurvedic symptoms and biochemical parameters such as FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, FUS, and PPUS.

Methodology

The research used a prospective, open-label, two-arm interventional design. It included:

• 64 registered patients, with 60 completing the study.
• 30 participants in each treatment group completed the trial.
• Treatment duration: 60 days, followed by 30 days of follow-up.
• Both groups received 3 g of seed powder twice daily before meals with lukewarm water.
• The Methika group received Trigonella foenum-graecum powder, while the comparator group received Trigonella corniculata powder.

The study also included macroscopic and microscopic identification, physicochemical testing, phytochemical screening, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to establish the identity and quality of the herbal materials.

Main Findings

The two groups were comparable at baseline, with no statistically significant differences in blood glucose, HbA1c, urinary glucose measures, or symptom scores.

Baseline biochemical values were approximately:

• FBS: 153.66 vs. 158.79 mg/dL
• PPBS: 246.34 vs. 252.71 mg/dL
• HbA1c: 7.98% vs. 8.12%

The study reported no major adverse events, and the completion rate was 93.75% in both groups.

The phytochemical analysis found several common constituent classes in both plants, including carbohydrates, reducing sugars, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, amino acids, and proteins. However, their TLC profiles differed, providing an analytical means of distinguishing the two species.

Participant Profile

Among the 60 participants:

• 55% were female and 45% male.
• The largest age group was 41–50 years (40%).
• 66.67% had a family history of diabetes.
• 60% followed a vegetarian diet.
• 56.67% had carbohydrate-dominant diets.
• 46.67% had Madhura-dominant dietary intake.
• Most participants had a disease duration of 2–5 years.

Conclusion

The present comparative analytical and clinical study evaluated Methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and Kasuri Methika (Trigonella corniculata) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus interpreted within the Ayurvedic framework of Prameha. The study combined pharmacognostical identification, preliminary phytochemical screening, TLC profiling, standardized Choorna preparation and prospective clinical evaluation. Both drugs demonstrated significant improvement in the selected subjective symptoms of Prameha. Polyuria, turbidity of urine, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, burning/numbness, perspiration, weakness, cramps, drowsiness and glycosuria all showed improvement within the treatment groups. The objective measures FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, FUS and PPUS also decreased significantly in both groups, with p < 0.001 for the reported within-group comparisons. Methika produced 51.73% overall improvement and Kasuri Methika 47.63%. Although Methika showed a numerically higher overall response, the 4.10-percentage-point difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.385). The objective-parameter comparisons likewise showed no significant difference between groups. Therefore, the principal clinical conclusion is that both interventions were effective in the studied setting, while the evidence does not demonstrate comparative superiority of Methika over Kasuri Methika. The analytical findings further demonstrate that the two seed drugs can be differentiated through their pharmacognostical characteristics and TLC fingerprints. Both showed positive qualitative reactions for several phytochemical classes, but their chromatographic profiles differed under the stated solvent systems. This supports the importance of authentication and standardization when these botanically related drugs are used for therapeutic research.

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