Antihyperglycemic, Cholesterol-lowering and HDL-raising Effects of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) Seeds in Type - 2 Diabetes

Objective: To investigate anti-hyperglycemic, cholesterol-lowering and HDL-raising effects of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds-a non toxic natural therapeutic agent, in type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: The therapeutic effects of cumin seeds were evaluated by comparing with antidiabetic drug in type 2 diabetes patients. A total of 20, type 2 diabetes patients were divided into control and experimental groups consisting of 10 each and treated with anti-diabetic drug and cumin seed (commonly used spice) powder (5g/day) respectively for 60 days. Results: Patients with cumin seed therapy significantly improved their glycemic control as evidenced by significantly decreased levels of fasting glucose levels, showed significantly decreased levels of cholesterol (47%, p<0.001), triglycerides (26%, p< 0.02), plasma free fatty acids (4%, p< 0.5), phospholipids (9%, p< 0.05), LDL- cholesterol (5%, p<0.5),VLDL-cholesterol (26%, p<0.02) and atherogenic index (21%, p<0.001) while significantly increasing HDL-cholesterol (10%, p<0.02). Conclusion: Cuminum cyminum seeds exhibited anti-hyperglycemic, cholesterollowering and HDL-raising effects in type-2-diabetes and the efficacy of cumin seeds was proved to be superior to the drug in ameliorating the abnormalities in lipid profile in diabetes patients. This corroborates with earlier reports on experimentally induced-diabetic rats.