RESUMO
Background: Diabetes is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism characterized by increased fasting and post prandial blood sugar levels. The global prevalence of diabetes is estimated to increase, from 4% in 1995 to 5.4% by the year 2025. WHO has predicted that the major burden will occur in developing countries. Drugs used in treatment of diabetes mellitus type II include sulfonylureas, biguanides, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors, and α-glucosidase inhibitors. Due to low compliance of allopathic medicines patients are in search of medicinal herbs to treat their hyperglycemic state. Garlic is one of those herbs whose hypoglycemic effects are remarkable and accepted by cardiologists. Methods: We compared hypoglycemic potential of herbal hypoglycemic herb Garlic with Metformin. It was single blind placebo control research conducted at Jinnah Hospital Lahore-Pakistan from January 2016 to June 2016. Seventy-five diabetic type-II patients were selected for research. Hospital research counsel-approved and explained consent was taken from all patients. They were divided in three groups, 25 patients in each group. Group-1 patients were advised to take 250 mg Metformin thrice daily for two months. Group-2 patients were advised to take 10 grams of garlic in three divided doses for two months. Group-3 was on placebo therapy. Their base line fasting blood glucose level was taken and kept in record. They were advised to visit the lipid research clinic of the hospital fortnightly. They were also advised to check their fasting plasma glucose level daily at the morning by using Glucometer. Results: After two months’ trial when results were compiled and statistically analyzed by applying paired ‘t’ test, it was observed that Metformin decreased blood sugar level 28.4 mg/dl in 24 diabetic patients, which is highly significant change biostatistically. Garlic reduced fasting blood sugar 25.5 mg/dl in 22 diabetic patients, which is biostatistically highly significant change with p-value <0.001. Conclusions: It was concluded from the study that garlic can decrease blood glucose level highly significantly, near to hypoglycemic effect of Metformin.