AN OVERVIEW OF PLANTS CAUSING TERATOGENICITY: FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRAECUM)

Some plants are toxic to living beings including humans, and are widely used all over the world in the treatment of various types of body ailments in traditional medicine, especially in the developing countries, due to theirs economic, social and cultural conditions. These plants are routinely taken for the nourishment of the pregnant women. This may cause the toxicity to the developing foetus, known as teratogenicity effect, and the plants are qualified as teratogens. Fenugreek is one of these plants, which has a wide range of medical applications, and wide use by ladies during pregnancy for different reasons. This Paper aims to present an overview of some existing studies and status of the teratogenic effect of fenugreek, to benefit from their results and conclusions