Stigmasterol expedites ester production in Trigonella foenum-graecum L: In vivo and in vitro propagates

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), a popular spice, is explored in the literature for its chemical constituents and pharmacological potential. In the current investigation, a comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of stigmasterol in the biochemical and therapeutic properties of fenugreek grown under controlled and natural environmental conditions. Fenugreek treated with stigmasterol significantly (p < 0.001) increased the production of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and tannins, as well as antioxidants, in field grown plants compared to in vitro calli. In vivo-grown plants also showed stronger antitumor (IC50 = 0.001 μg/mL) and antidiabetic activities (IC50 < 1.0 µg/mL) upon treatment with stigmasterol. GC-MS analysis depicted an augmentation of ester acids along with phytol and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol production in stigmasterol-treated samples. This suggests that stigmasterol effectively boosts the medicinal properties of fenugreek and could be explored for enhancing the bioactive properties of other medicinal plants.