The following methods of screening for steroidal sapogenins in the seed of the genus Trigonella were critically examined: (I) blood haemolysis, (II) colour reaction, (III) infrared spectrophotometric assay, (IV) thin layer chromatography. The results obtained from ten species are described. T. coerulea, T. corniculata, T. cretica and T. foenumgraecum contained different amounts of various steroidal sapogenins with diosgenin predominant. Steroidal sapogenins were absent from T. calliceras. The rest of the species were tested by methods (I) and (II) only. By method (I) T. monspeliaca and T. poylcerata and by method (II) T. hamosa and T. polycerata gave positive results. T. platicarpa and T. radiata gave negative results in both these tests.