Reduction of Cholesterol and Fasting Blood Sugar Levels by One Month Supplementation of Fresh Garlic in Diabetic Libyan Patients: A Double Blind, Baseline Controlled Study

Background: The therapeutic effects of fresh garlic remain controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate whether supplementation of fresh garlic could improve blood glucose and cholesterol profile in Libyan diabetic patients with moderate blood cholesterol.Methods:Forty-six diabetic patients were randomly assigned to either fresh garlic alone (≈2 grams/day), or fresh garlic in combination with glibenclamide taken on an empty stomach every morning for a month. Serum blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure were measured before starting treatment and after the end of the treatment period.Results: Fresh garlic alone was able to decrease the mean serum cholesterol levels by 26 mg/dl (84% of the original base values), while the combination of fresh garlic and glibenclamide produced a 28 mg/dl decrease in the mean serum cholesterol (85% of the original base values). Fresh garlic alone was able as well to decrease the mean blood glucose levels by 20 mg/dl (85% of the original base values), while the combination of fresh garlic and glibenclamide produced a 60 mg/dl decrease in the serum glucose levels (72% of the original base values). Neither treatment had a significant effect on the mean systolic or diastolic blood pressures after 30 days of treatment.Conclusion: Administration of fresh garlic every morning for a month significantly reduced the blood cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Thus administering dietary fresh garlic daily to diabetic patients might have cardio-protective effects on diabetic patients

Studies and evaluation of compressed microspheres

This work was aimed at the use of dissolution testing and similarity factor to assess the level of damage taken by active drug microspheres during compression in tablet dosage form. To achieve that, combinations of suitable excipients were used to protect drug microspheres during compression. The excipients were used in the form of powders, granules or placebo pellets prepared by extrusion-spheronization technology. The excipients were evaluated alone, in combinations and post-compression into compacts. Preliminary experiments included density, hardness, friability and disintegration on all of the selected excipients. Based on such experiments it was found that the flowability of combination powders was more acceptable than individual excipients. Two combinations of microcrystalline -starch and microcrystalline cellulose -calcium carbonate granules were selected to be compressed with active ketoprofen pellets. In all the combinations used there was a significant amount of damage to drug pellets. The kinetics of drug release appears to follow the zero-order rate and the rate remained unchanged even when a significant degree of damage to pellets occur. It was found that a high level of excipients is required in order to prepare microspheres as a rapid disintegrating tablet