Anti Leukemic Potential of Different Fenugreek Seed Germplasms

Drugs currently used in cancer treatment cause rigorous side effects, since the targeted pathways also occur in rapidly dividing normal cells. Newly emerging targeted drugs rely on inhibiting an aberrant tumor promoting pathway and the heterogeneity of cell types enable cancers to develop drug resistance. In addition, genetic instability enables malignant cells to evade inhibitor drugs by secondary mutations in target genes and other genetic changes. As a consequence, progress has been lacking in treating the majority of cancers. Plant constituents and derivatives hold great promise for cancer prevention and treatment. It is now believed that majority of cancers are attributed to environmental and dietary factors and incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and spices in the diet seem to reduce the incidence of various cancers. The dietary agents are safe and readily available. However, application of plant components for cancer treatment/prevention requires better understanding of anticancer functions and elucidation of their mechanisms of action. The current study focuses on the anti-leukemic properties of fenugreek, a herb with proven anti-diabetic, antitumor and immune-stimulating functions. Here five fenugreek varieties of seed extracts were tested on B CLL (B Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) for its anti-leukemic potential. Results indicate that there is a good degree of potentiality of anti-leukemic activity of all these five germplasms though amber shoed the most potent activity as compared to other cultivars. This report showing fenugreek as an inducer apoptosis on B CLL cells hold a great promise in the future treatment of this form of leukemia.