Background. Medicinal plants have long been used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic efficacy and safety of NW Low-Glu® (contents of one capsule are 300 mg Mas Cotek + 100 mg Cinnamomum cassia L. + 250 mg Nigella sativa L. powdered extracts) in treatment-naïve, newly diagnosed T2DM patients. Methods. This was a 12-week, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, phase 2 clinical trial. A total of 232 male and female patients aged ≥18 and ≤65 years who were newly diagnosed with T2DM and have not received any antidiabetic drugs before and were equally randomized to receive metformin (2000 mg per day), low-dose NW Low-Glu® (content of four capsules per day), or high-dose NW Low-Glu® (content of five capsules per day). Our primary objective was to measure the mean change in HbA1c between each of the experimental arms and the metformin arm. Results. There was a significant reduction in mean HbA1c at 12 weeks compared to baseline in the low-dose (0.6 (1.4)%; p = 0.002 ) and high-dose arms (0.8 (1.7)%; p = 0.004 ). There was also a significant reduction in 2 hr PPG at 12 weeks in the low-dose (35.4 (74.9) mg/dL, p = 0.001 ) and high-dose arms (24.7 (100.8) mg/dL, p = 0.04 ). Weight reduction was significantly higher with both high-dose (1.1 (−1.7) Kg; p = 0.005 ) and low-dose arms (0.9 (−1.5) Kg; p = 0.023 ) compared to metformin (0.8 (−1.8) Kg). No serious AEs or deaths were reported. Conclusions. After 3 months of treatment, NW Low-Glu® was noninferior to metformin in reducing HbA1c and 2 hr PPG, while leading to significantly higher weight reduction in newly diagnosed T2DM patients. It was also safe and well tolerated.

Hypertension is a public health concern that needs immediate attention upon diagnosis. The demand for natural alternatives is on the rise; Hibiscus sabdariffa and Olea europaea are traditionally used for hypertension management in Egypt. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of two doses of an herbal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyxes and Olea europaea leaves (NW Roselle) in Egyptian patients with grade 1 essential hypertension. We equally randomized 134 patients to receive captopril 25 mg, low‐dose NW Roselle, or high‐dose NW Roselle BID for 8 weeks. No significant decrease was found in systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure when we compared low‐dose NW Roselle and high‐dose NW Roselle to captopril (p > .05). In all groups, mean reduction in BP at 8 weeks was significant; 16.4/9.9 mmHg (p < .0001), 15.4/9.6 mmHg (p < .0001), and 14.9/9.4 mmHg (p < .0001) with captopril, low‐dose NW Roselle, and high‐dose NW Roselle respectively. In addition, low‐dose NW Roselle induced a significant reduction in the mean level of triglycerides (17.56 mg/dL; p = .038). In conclusion, NW Roselle had comparable antihypertensive efficacy and safety to captopril in Egyptian patients with grade 1 essential hypertension.

Nurses are qualified to provide effective nursing interventions in management of hypertensive patients and lower risk of cardiovascular disease; nurses-led interventions for hypertensive patients are measuring and monitoring blood pressure (BP); educate patients about importance of performing physical exercises, and select healthy diet as alkaline based diet. Eating more alkaline diet has many advantages as lowering blood pressure, lipid profile as cholesterol so improving cardiovascular health, moreover reducing body weight. The aim of the study: to examine the effect nurses-led interventions as intake alkaline-based diet on blood pressure, lipid profile and weight among patients with hypertension. Design: Quasi Experimental design. Setting: Medical outpatient clinic of Menoufia University Hospital, Egypt. Subject: Purposive samples of 100 hypertensive patients, they fulfill the inclusion criteria, 50 patients in each group (study and control). Tools: Three tools used to collect the current data; as follows: The tool (I): Interview questionnaire; Tool (II): Questionnaire for Alkaline -Based Diet. Tool (III): Physiological measurement. Results: the present results documented that; a highly significant difference was found between the two groups post intervention in relation to knowledge levels; blood pressure of the study group was lower than those of the control group after following the alkaline diet and water; also highly statistically significant differences were found between study and control groups at all measurements during post intervention in weight and all lipid profile variables except at the 3 rd measurement. Conclusion: consumption of alkaline diet and water had a good effect in reducing arterial blood pressure, body weight and blood lipids. Recommendation: replicate the study on large sample and establishing periodical alkaline diet programs with planned meals for hypertension, overweight and high blood lipids patients with continuous follow up.

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