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The use of medicinal plants by diabetic patients dates back to ancient times. In recent years, numerous reports have been published on the efficacy and safety of many medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes through various mechanisms. This review highlights the up-to-date proposed mechanisms of action of the most common antidiabetic herbs used in Persian medicine, comprising Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Urtica dioica, Nigella sativa, Citrullus colocynthis, Silybum marianum, Zingiber officinale, Punica granatum, Salvia officinalis, Vaccinium arctostaphylos, and Momordica charantia, with support from clinical and experimental studies. Clinical research has shown significant reductions in blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, as well as improvements in diabetes-related symptoms, including digestive disorders and lipid dysregulation, accompanied by negligible adverse effects. Continuing to study how these plants work and how effectively they treat diabetes is important for using these natural treatments in modern medicine, offering affordable and safe options for diabetes patients.The use of medicinal plants by diabetic patients dates back to ancient times. In recent years, numerous reports have been published on the efficacy and safety of many medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes through various mechanisms. This review highlights the up-to-date proposed mechanisms of action of the most common antidiabetic herbs used in Persian medicine, comprising Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Urtica dioica, Nigella sativa, Citrullus colocynthis, Silybum marianum, Zingiber officinale, Punica granatum, Salvia officinalis, Vaccinium arctostaphylos, and Momordica charantia, with support from clinical and experimental studies. Clinical research has shown significant reductions in blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, as well as improvements in diabetes-related symptoms, including digestive disorders and lipid dysregulation, accompanied by negligible adverse effects. Continuing to study how these plants work and how effectively they treat diabetes is important for using these natural treatments in modern medicine, offering affordable and safe options for diabetes patients.

The use of medicinal plants by diabetic patients dates back to ancient times. In recent years, numerous reports have been published on the efficacy and safety of many medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes through various mechanisms. This review highlights the up-to-date proposed mechanisms of action of the most common antidiabetic herbs used in Persian medicine, comprising Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Urtica dioica, Nigella sativa, Citrullus colocynthis, Silybum marianum, Zingiber officinale, Punica granatum, Salvia officinalis, Vaccinium arctostaphylos, and Momordica charantia, with support from clinical and experimental studies. Clinical research has shown significant reductions in blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, as well as improvements in diabetes-related symptoms, including digestive disorders and lipid dysregulation, accompanied by negligible adverse effects. Continuing to study how these plants work and how effectively they treat diabetes is important for using these natural treatments in modern medicine, offering affordable and safe options for diabetes patients.

Background Depression is more common in diabetic patients, with a 1.5-fold increased risk of death. Melissa officinalis ( M. officinalis ) have anti-diabetic and anti-depression activities. The study aimed to determine the efficacy of M. officinalis extract on depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes with depressive symptoms. Methods In this double-blind clinical trial, 60 volunteer patients (age range 20–65 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus with symptoms of depression were randomized into the intervention (received 700 mg/day hydroalcoholic extract; n  = 30) or control group (received 700 mg/day toasted flour; n  = 30). Dietary intake, physical activity, anthropometric indices, FBS (Fasting blood sugar), hs-CRP(High-sensitivity C-reactiveprotein), depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were determined at the beginning and end of the study. Depression and anxiety were assessed by Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively; sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Sixty participants received M. officinalis extract or placebo, of which 44 patients completed the 12-week double-blind clinical trial. After 12-week the mean change of depression and anxiety scores were statistically significant between the two groups ( p  < 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively), but no significant differences were observed in FBS, hs-CRP, anthropometric indices, sleep quality, and blood pressure.In the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in depression and anxiety severity( p  < 0.001 and p  = 0.01, respectively) at the end of the study compared to the baseline. Trial registration All protocols in this study were followed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration (1989 revision). Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Iran University of Medical Sciences Ethics committee (IR.IUMS.FMD.REC 1396.9413468004; research.iums.ac.ir). The study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT201709239472N16); Registration date: 09/10/2017.

Regarding preclinical evidence for antidiabetic effects of Boswellia serrata, we evaluated antihyperglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in type 2 diabetic patients. Fifty-six diabetic patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups to receive 250 mg of the Boswellia serrata gum resin or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks in addition to their routine antidiabetic treatments. Although there was a considerable reduction after the intervention in the field of fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, and triglyceride in the Boswellia serrata gum resin group, no significant difference was observed in all outcome measures between the 2 groups at the end of the study. The current study showed that 8 weeks of complementary use of Boswellia serrata gum resin with a daily dose of 500 mg had no better glucose and lipid-lowering effect than placebo in diabetic patients.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotic bacteria of Lactobacillus acidophilus, cinnamon powder and their combinations on the glycemic and antioxidant indices in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsA total of 136 patients randomized with type 2 diabetes entered the study and were randomly divided into four groups who were matched for age and gender. Thereafter, alongside their routine pharmacotherapy, each group followed one of the following diets: Group A: Lactobacillus acidophilus 108 cfu and 0.5 g of powdered cinnamon (synbiotic). Group B: Lactobacillus acidophilus (probiotic), Group C: powdered cinnamon. Group D: rice flour powder as placebo. At the beginning and end of the intervention, fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, advance glycation end products (AGE), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were measured.ResultsFollowing 3 months of treatment, the mean FBS level was decreased significantly in probiotic, cinnamon, and synbiotic supplementation groups compared with control (P < 0.01). FBS levels in probiotic, cinnamon, and synbiotic groups were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P = 0.001, P = 0.063 and P = 0.001, respectively). The mean HbA1C in probiotic, cinnamon, and synbiotic groups were also decreased (P = 0.001, P = 0.001 and P = 0.04, respectively). The mean AGE in synbiotic group was significantly decreased (P = 0.037). Probiotic, cinnamon and synbiotic all could improve antioxidant enzyme activity modestly. However, the most significant effect was seen in probiotic group.ConclusionsAccording to the current results, the use of probiotic supplements (individually or in combination with cinnamon) leads to a reduction in blood glucose and an increase in antioxidant enzymes in people with type 2 diabetes.

Background Juglans regia L. ( J. regia ) is one of the medicinal plants traditionally used for treatment of diabetes in Iranian medicine. The effect of this plant has already been investigated on animal models; however, this is the first study conducted on human subjects. The aim of this study is to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of J. regia leaves aqueous extract in type 2 diabetes patients. Fifty eight Iranian male and female patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups. One group (n = 30) received J. regia leaves extract while the other group (n = 28) received placebo. Fasting blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after two months for determination of HbA1c and blood glucose level as a main outcome and insulin, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP level as secondary outcome. Results Our analysis showed that serum fasting HbA1C and blood glucose levels were significantly decreased and the insulin level was increased in patients in the J. regia arm. Conclusions The results indicate that J. regia aqueous extract favorably affects blood levels of glucose, insulin and HbA1C in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background Previous studies suggest that chemical constituents present in Pinus eldarica Medw ( P. eldarica ) nut possess antioxidant properties that may positively influence lipid profile. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of P. eldarica nut on the experimental atherosclerosis development in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Methods Forty male 6 months old white New Zealand rabbits (1.8–2 kg) were randomly assigned into five equal groups. One group was kept as control (normal) group, fed on standard rabbit diet and other 4 groups were fed on high cholesterol diet (HCD). Out of four HCD groups one group was kept as control (HCD) and other three groups were treated with different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) of P. eldarica nut for 8 weeks. Percentage of aortic wall area changes as indication of atherosclerosis development and fasting blood cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels were determined in all groups. Results The results indicate that fasting blood cholesterol and aortic atherosclerotic involvements in 200 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day P. eldarica nut extract treated groups significantly decreased as compared to the high cholesterol-diet control group. Conclusion P. eldarica nut lowers blood cholesterol level and aortic atherosclerotic involvement in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Regarding preclinical evidence for antidiabetic effects of Boswellia serrata , we evaluated antihyperglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in type 2 diabetic patients. Fifty-six diabetic patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups to receive 250 mg of the Boswellia serrata gum resin or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks in addition to their routine antidiabetic treatments. Although there was a considerable reduction after the intervention in the field of fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, and triglyceride in the Boswellia serrata gum resin group, no significant difference was observed in all outcome measures between the 2 groups at the end of the study. The current study showed that 8 weeks of complementary use of Boswellia serrata gum resin with a daily dose of 500 mg had no better glucose and lipid-lowering effect than placebo in diabetic patients.

Regarding preclinical evidence for antidiabetic effects of Boswellia serrata, we evaluated anti-hyperglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of Boswellia serrate gum resin in type 2 diabetic patients in a double-blind randomized placebo-control trial. Fifty-six diabetic patients were randomly allocated to two groups to receive 250 mg of the Boswellia serrate gum resin or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks, in addition to their routine antidiabetic treatments. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin level, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride of serum were measured before and after the intervention. Although there was a considerable reduction after the intervention in FBS (P=0.04), HbA1c (P=0.02) and triglyceride (P=0.01) in the Boswellia serrate gum resin group, no significant difference was observed in all outcome measures between the two groups at the end of the study (FBS P=0.09, HbA1c P=0.20, total cholesterol P=0.31, LDL P=0.49, HDL P=0.10, triglyceride P=0.78 and insulin level P=0.86). The current study showed the 8 weeks complementary use of Boswellia serrate gum resin with a daily dose of 500 mg had no better glucose and lipid lowering effect than placebo in diabetic patients.