Experimental and clinical evaluation of a mixture of medicinal plants commonly used in folk therapy of diabets mellitus

ABSTRACT

A mixture of raw dried and grounded medicinal plants [Nigella Sativa, Chamomella, Damsesa, Mahlab and Aloe]and two legumes [Helba and Termis] in a proportion of one volume of each medicinal plant, and five volumes of each legume has been largely used in Folk medicine by many diabetics for better control of blood glucose Ievel. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of this mixture on fasting and 2 hours post prandial serum glucose levels and fasting serum insulin level in alloxan diabetic albino rats and in parents with type II diabetes mellitus. The results revealed that oral administration of the tested mixture to alloxanized rats [0.5 gm/kgm/day] and to diabetic patients [5 gm/day] for two or four weeks produced statistically significant lowering of fasting and 2 hours post prandial serum glucose levels accompained with a significant elevation of serum insulin level. Histopathological examination of pancreas of alloxanized rats demonstrated that this mixture produced a marked increase in the size of islet tissue with significant recovery of the destructed B-cells. This study is a preliminary report of the antidiabetic action of this tested mixture. Further well controlled studies are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long term use of this mixture and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism [s] for it's antidiabetic action