The Combination Effect of Five Herbal Drugs

Objective: There are some studies about the good effects of herbal medicine on blood glucose. This study was designed to evaluate the synergism effect of Peganum Harmala (P.harmala), Quercus Infectoria (Q.i), Vaccinium Myrtillus (V.myrtillus), Citrullos Colocynthis (C.colocynthis), Securigera Securidaca (S.s) on blood glucosein type ۲ diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty four type ۲ diabetic patients were enrolled in this cross over double- blinded clinical trial for receiving two months herbal medication and placebo. The subjects divided into two groups randomly. One group received herbal medication (the doses of ۲۵mg/person of V.myrtillus, S.s and Mazoj and ۶۲.۵mg C.colocynthis, P.harmala) and the other group received placebo for ۸ weeks. After washout period the herbal medication and placebo were replaced for the next ۸ weeks. T-test and Chi-square were used for the comparison of variables between two groups. Results: After two months, mean fasting blood glucose was ۱۳۵±۲۷.۱ and ۱۳۹±۳۶.۸ mg/dl, (P-value=۰.۶۴), and mean glycosylated hemoglobin was ۶.۵±۰.۷۵ and ۶.۶±۰.۹۷ percent, with herbal medication and placebo, respectively (P-value=۰.۵۱). About ۱۵.۴%of patients after herbal medication and ۱۵.۴ % after placebo consumption had ۰.۸% reduction in HbA۱C (P-value=۱/۰). The mean HOMA IR index, after two months intervention with herbal medication or placebo, was ۲.۹±۱.۹۵ and ۳.۹±۱.۹۷, respectively (P-value=۰.۰۵). Conclusion: low dose combination of P.harmala, Q.i, V.myrtillus, C.colocynthis, S.s improve the insulin sensitivity.Also low dose of this combination did not have significant effect on blood glucose.

Keywords:

Diabetes mellitus , Herbal medication , Insulin sensitivity , Glycosylated hemoglobin