The herbal remedies examined had significantly beneficial effects on cholesterol, but not on measures of glycemic control, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Based on the contradictory results reported in the literature, the effects of herbal medicine in diabetic patients should undergo further detailed investigation.

Herbal medicines with high amounts of phytochemicals have been shown to have beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP), endothelial function and anthropometric measures. This study aimed to determine the effect of herbal treatment on BP, endothelial function and anthropometric measures in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This clinical trial included 204 T2DM patients randomly assigned to four intervention groups receiving 3 g cinnamon, 3 g cardamom, 1 g saffron or 3 g ginger with three glasses of black tea, and one control group consuming only three glasses of tea without any herbals, for 8 weeks. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), systolic and diastolic BP and anthropometric measures were collected at baseline and after 8 weeks. No significant difference was found between various medicinal plants in terms of influencing BP, serum soluble (s)ICAM-1 concentrations and anthropometric measures. However, in within-group comparison saffron and ginger intakes significantly reduced sICAM-1 concentrations (340.9 ± 14.4 vs 339.69 ± 14.4 ng/ml, p = 0.01, and 391.78 ± 16.0 vs 390.97 ± 15.8 ng/ml, p = 0.009, respectively) and ginger intake affected systolic BP (143.06 ± 0.2 vs 142.07 ± 0.2 mmHg, p = 0.02). Although administration of these herbal medicines as supplementary remedies could affect BP and sICAM-1 concentrations, there was no significant difference between the plants in terms of influencing anthropometric measures, BP and endothelial function.

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Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance and changes in serum adipocytokine levels. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of phytosomal curcumin on serum adiponectin and leptin levels in patients with NAFLD. Methods: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 65 eligible patients were randomly allocated into curcumin and placebo recipient groups using a blocked randomized technique. Parameters of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), adiponectin, leptin, and the leptin:adiponectin ratio were measured at baseline and eight weeks after intervention. Results: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased significantly in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group (p=0.01). Serum adiponectin levels increased significantly (p<0.001) and serum leptin levels decreased significantly (p<0.001) with a decrease in the leptin: adiponectin ratio in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group after 8 weeks of intervention. Conclusions: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was associated with changes in serum adipokines levels. Phytosomal curcumin effectively improved leptin and adiponectin levels. It is possible that curcumin efficacy will increase with long-term use of higher doses of this substance.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamon cassia), the eternal tree of tropical medicine, belongs to the Lauraceae family and is one of the most important spices used daily by people all over the world. It contains a lot of manganese, iron, dietary fiber, and calcium. Cinnamon contains derivatives, such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamate, and numerous other components such as polyphenols and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer effects. Several reports have dealt with the numerous properties of cinnamon in the forms of bark, essential oils, bark powder, and phenolic compounds, and each of these properties can play a key role in human health. Recently, many trials have explored the beneficial effects of cinnamon in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, arthritis, and arteriosclerosis, but still we need further investigations to provide additional clinical evidence for this spice against cancer and inflammatory, cardioprotective, and neurological disorders.