clinical investigation of citrullus colocynthis (L.) schrad fruit in treatment of Type II diabetic patients: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad fruit is an herbal medicine used by traditional herbalists for the treatment of diabetes in Iran. To determine its efficacy and toxicity, a 2 month clinical trial was conducted in 50 type II diabetic patients. Two groups of 25 each under standard antidiabetic therap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytotherapy research 2009-08, Vol.23 (8), p.1186-1189
Main Authors: Huseini, H. Fallah, Darvishzadeh, F, Heshmat, R, Jafariazar, Z, Raza, Mohsin, Larijani, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Chemical Analysis
Blood Glucose - drug effects
Citrullus - chemistry
Citrullus colocynthis
diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy
Double-Blind Method
Female
Fruit - chemistry
General pharmacology
Glycated Hemoglobin A - drug effects
HbA1c
Herbal Medicine
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Phytotherapy
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Summary:Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad fruit is an herbal medicine used by traditional herbalists for the treatment of diabetes in Iran. To determine its efficacy and toxicity, a 2 month clinical trial was conducted in 50 type II diabetic patients. Two groups of 25 each under standard antidiabetic therapy, received 100 mg C. colocynthis fruit capsules or placebos three times a day, respectively. The patients were visited monthly and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine levels were determined at the beginning and after 2 months. The results showed a significant decrease in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels in C. colocynthis treated patients. Other serological parameters levels in both the groups did not change significantly. No notable gastrointestinal side effect was observed in either group. In conclusion, C. colocynthis fruit treatment had a beneficial effect on improving the glycemic profile without severe adverse effects in type II diabetic patients. Further clinical studies are recommended to evaluate the long-term efficacy and toxicity of C. colocynthis in diabetic patients. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0951-418X
1099-1573
DOI:10.1002/ptr.2754