Background & objectives: Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder considered as one of the most common chronic diseases in many countries, including Iran. One of the reducing factors in insulin sensitivity is increased serum levels of inflammatory factors like hsCRP and TNF-α. On the other hand, in recent years, Cuminum Cyminum is known as one of the potent herbs in the treatment of diabetes type 2 in animal studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two doses of 50 and 100 mg of Cuminum Cyminum extract on glycemic indices and indicators of inflammation in human subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This study is a double blind randomized clinical trial performed in Urmia city on 2015. Samples were selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly divided into 3 groups: two groups receiving Cuminum Cyminum extract of 50 and 100 mg per day and the control (placebo) group. Before and 8 weeks after intervention, fasting blood sugar, serum insulin and inflammatory profile of hsCRP and TNF-α were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS and the effect of supplementation was studied.

Results: The mean age of the all participants was 47.33±6.36. Results showed that the mean fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum insulin reduced significantly in the both groups receiving Cuminum extract of  50 and 100 mg(p<0.01)., but increased in the placebo group. Average hsCRP and TNF-α levels have shown significant reduction at the beginning and end of the study in either group receiving 50 and 100 mg of supplementation (p<0.01).

Conclusion: This study indicates that short-term daily supplementation of Cuminum Cyminum extract at the doses of 50 or 100mg in patients with type 2 diabetes during 8 weeks may act to reduce the serum levels of insulin, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and hsCRP and TNF-α levels, and also may be fruitful for control of this disease.