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Ghorbani A, Zarvandi M, Rakhshandeh H. A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Herbal Compound for Improving Metabolic Parameters in Diabetic Patients with Uncontrolled Dyslipidemia. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2019; 19:1075-1082. [DOI: 10.2174/1871530319666190206213420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective:
The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of a
polyherbal compound consisting of Aloe vera, black seed, fenugreek, garlic, milk thistle, and psyllium
on diabetic patients with uncontrolled dyslipidemia.
Methods:
Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes who had dyslipidemia in spite of statin therapy were randomly
allocated to two groups: control group (n = 25) receiving a conventional therapy with hypolipidemic
and hypoglycemic drugs and intervention group (n = 25) receiving both the conventional therapy
and the herbal compound (one sachet twice daily) for 12 weeks. Each sachet contained 300 mg of
Aloe vera leaf gel, 1.8 g of black seed, 300 mg of garlic, 2.5 g of fenugreek seed, 1 g of psyllium seed,
and 500 mg of milk thistle seed.
Results:
The levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and HbA1c
showed a significant in-group improvement in the intervention group. However, the effects of the
herbal compound on fasting blood glucose remained insignificant. The compound had no unwanted
effect on the kidney function parameters (urea, creatinine) and serum liver enzymes (alanine
aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase).
Conclusion:
The tested herbal compound, as an add-on to statin therapy, was effective in lowering the
serum lipids in diabetic patients with uncontrolled dyslipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Ghorbani
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahdi Zarvandi
- Department of Persian Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hassan Rakhshandeh
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Abstract
There is a dominant opinion in the Western sources of history of medicine that the roots of modern clinical trials and methodology of experimental medicine first started in the Renaissance. However, this opinion has been disputed with the thorough study of the rich medical literature of the medieval Islamic era. In the current review, the roots of clinical trial methodology have been traced back to the medieval Islamic tradition and the contribution of Islamic scholars in this field is discussed. The importance of experimental versus theoretical reasoning, the need for a control group, a statistical approach to interpreting trial results, appreciation of uncertainty in medical practice, and the difference between human and animal trials all can be traced back to the rich medieval Islamic medical literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Zarvandi
- Department of Persian Medicine, Faculty of Traditional & Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ramin Sadeghi
- Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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