Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a medicinal plant that has been used as a food condiment as well as for its multiple therapeutic characteristics since ancient times. Fenugreek plant grows up to 60 cm in height, and its seeds are golden-yellow rhomboidal-shaped. Though fenugreek is more commonly known for its seeds, the leaves and stem have also been reported to have medicinal uses. These properties exhibited are due to the content of the secondary metabolites, also known as phytochemicals, in the fenugreek plant. Such metabolites are alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and many others. Fenugreek has been used traditionally for numerous indications, such as aid in labour, lactation stimulant, and laxatives. In modern research, there have been several animal and clinical studies that have shown therapeutic effects of fenugreek when taken orally. Fenugreek is a suitable plant candidate with a high prospect of being used as a credible medicinal plant to derive new drugs. This review aims to summarize the physical and chemical properties of fenugreek and its bioactive compounds that have been isolated for medicinal purposes and discusses the traditional and pharmacological uses of fenugreek.

Paeonol is a naturally existing bioactive compound found in the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa and it is traditionally used in Chinese medicine for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. To date, a great deal of studies has been reported on the pharmacological effects of paeonol and its mechanisms of action in various diseases and conditions. In this review, the underlying mechanism of action of paeonol in cardiovascular disease has been elucidated. Recent studies have revealed that paeonol treatment improved endothelium injury, demoted inflammation, ameliorated oxidative stress, suppressed vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and repressed platelet activation. Paeonol has been reported to effectively protect the cardiovascular system either employed alone or in combination with other traditional medicines, thus, signifying it could be a hypothetically alternative or complementary atherosclerosis treatment. This review summarizes the biological and pharmacological activities of paeonol in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and its associated underlying mechanisms for a better insight for future clinical practices.

Since ancient times, fenugreek has been utilized as a dietary condiment as well as for its various therapeutic properties. The goal of this study is to look at the function of fenugreek in regulating obesity metabolism by providing a global picture of gene networks and pathways. The buildup of fat in adipose tissue and other internal organs is a hallmark of obesity, a long-term carbohydrate and lipid metabolic disorder. The fenugreek plant grows up to 60 cm tall, with golden-yellow rhomboidal seeds. Though the seeds of fenugreek are more well-known, the leaves and stems have also been suggested to have therapeutic properties. Various studies have shown that the secondary metabolites in the fenugreek plant are responsible for these properties. Several studies have shown that fenugreek has anti-obesity properties, making it a good plant candidate with a high prospect of being used to treat obesity. This review paper discusses the use of combinatorial analytic approaches to better understand the medicinal uses of fenugreek. Combinatorial analytical methods that use functional modulation and modelling may make it easier to come up with research strategies to fill in research gaps and find possible research niches.

Background: The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli underscores the urgent need for novel strategies to improve antibiotic efficacy. Objectives: This study examined the in vitro potential of an aqueous licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract in combination with fosfomycin against E. coli. Methods: Antimicrobial interactions were evaluated using the checkerboard method, followed by time-kill and biofilm formation assays. The checkerboard assay demonstrated an interaction between an aqueous licorice extract and fosfomycin, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 1, which was interpreted as indifferent. Results: Time-kill analysis demonstrated a bactericidal effect over 24 hours at the licorice/fosfomycin FICI concentration, with a significant reduction in viable cell counts compared with licorice alone at its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Furthermore, the combination of licorice and fosfomycin significantly reduced biofilm biomass at different concentrations, indicating potential to prevent biofilm-associated infections. Conclusions: Under in vitro conditions, aqueous licorice extract combined with fosfomycin exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli, although the checkerboard interaction was indifferent (FICI = 1). This combination may have potential as an adjunct strategy for managing E. coli infections, particularly those involving biofilm-associated resistance.