The Hypoglycemic Effect of Dorema aucheri (Bilhar) Extract in Diabetic Type 2 Patients: A First Clinical Trial

Abstract

Dorema aucheri (Bilhar) 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 and hypolipidemic effects of D. aucheri aqueous extract in type 2 diabetes patients. The study was a double-blind, one hundred Iranian male and female patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups. One group (n = 50) received D. aucheri leaves extract while the other group (n = 50) received placebo.Fasting blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after two months for determination of blood glucose level, HbA1c, lipid profiles, ALT and AST. Our analysis showed that serum fasting blood glucose level, HbA1c and lipid profiles were significantly improved in patients in the D. aucheri group compare with placebo group. However, there were no differences between groups in plasma level of hepatic enzymes AST and ALT. This study suggests that D. aucheri extract has a potential hypoglycemic and hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic action in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, further studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms of actions.