The Role of Trigonella foenum-graecum as Antioxidant by Regulating Oxidative Stress in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and often associated with increased oxidative stress, which contributes to the progression of diabetes complications. The use of herbal plants as complementary therapy is increasingly developing, one of which is fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), known to have antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study is to systematically evaluate the effects of fenugreek on oxidative stress in diabetic conditions based on available scientific evidence. This study employs a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. The literature was searched from five databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Nature, ScienceDirect, and Springer. A total of 5 articles met the eligibility criteria. All studies indicate that fenugreek has a protective effect on diabetic conditions through modulation of oxidative stress. The administration of fenugreek consistently correlates with a reduction in oxidative damage biomarkers and an increase in endogenous antioxidant capacity. Additionally, fenugreek also shows improvements in metabolic parameters and provides protective effects on target organs affected by diabetes complications, including the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and heart. Fenugreek shows promising potential as a complementary therapy in diabetes management, especially through its ability to modulate oxidative stress. Although the available results support the therapeutic effects of fenugreek, clinical research on humans with more robust methodological designs is still needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for clinical practice.