Prostagtandins, Leukotrienesand Essential Fatty Acids (1997)56(5), 379-384 © PearsonProfessionalLtd 1997 Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) on blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease A. Bordia, 1 S. K. Verma, 1 K. C. Srivastava a 1Department of Medicine, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur, india 2Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense University, Winsloewparken 17, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark Summary In a placebo-controlled study the effect of ginger and fenugreek was examined on blood lipids, blood sugar, platelet aggregation, fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity. The subjects included in this study were healthy individuals, patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) who either had CAD or were without CAD. In patients with CAD powdered ginger administered in a dose of 4 g daily for 3 months did not affect ADP- and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation. Also, no change in the fibrinolytic activity and fibrinogen level was observed. However, a single dose of 10 g powdered ginger administered to CAD patients produced a significant reduction in platelet aggregation induced by the two agonists. Ginger did not affect the blood lipids and blood sugar. Fenugreek given in a dose of 2.5 g twice daily for 3 months to healthy individuals did not affect the blood lipids and blood sugar (fasting and post prandial). However, administered in the same daily dose for the same duration to CAD patients also with NIDDM, fenugreek decreased significantly the blood lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides) without affecting the HDL-c. When administered in the same daily dose to NIDDM (non-CAD) patients (mild cases), fenugreek reduced significantly the blood sugar (fasting and post prandial). In severe NIDDM cases, blood sugar (both fasting and post prandial) was only slightly reduced. The changes were not significant. Fenugreek administration did not affect platelet aggregation, fibrinolytic activity and fibrinogen. INTRODUCTION In Ayurveda, various spices and herbs are described to possess medicinal properties, such as being anti- atherosclerotic, antithrombotic, hypolipidaemic, hypo- glycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic etc. Ginger and fenugreek, two important food spices, are known to ameliorate a number of afflictions. ~,2 But their effects, as for most other spices, have not been evaluated on a scientific basis. Here, we describe the effects of these Received 3 September 1996 Accepted 22 October 1996 Correspondence to: Dr A. Bordia, 16-B Old Fatehpura, Udaipur- 313 001, Rajasthan, India two spices on blood lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation (PAg) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Patient material All the patients were of old healed myocardial infarction (>6 months) with or without angina. Those having angina were stable in their symptoms on drugs. All were taking nitrates and aspirin; the latter was stopped 2 weeks before they were included in the study. The diagnosis of myocardial infarction was based on the history and a standard 12 leads electrocardiogram. 379