An Investigation on the Therapeutic Synergy of Metformin and Qurs-e-Ziabetes in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the combined anti-diabetic effects of Qurs-e-Ziabetes (QZ), a polyherbal Unani formulation, and Metformin, the standard pharmacological treatment, in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Materials and method: A total of 50 T2DM patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (n=25) received Metformin (500 mg twice daily), and Group 2 (n=25) received Metformin (500 mg twice daily) combined with Qurs-e-Ziabetes (250 mg twice daily). The study spanned 9 months, with follow-up visits at 3, 6, and 9 months to assess key parameters including fasting blood glucose (FBS), postprandial blood glucose (PPBS), HbA1c levels, body mass index (BMI), and clinical symptom improvement (e.g., polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and itching). Results: Both treatment regimens showed significant reductions in FBS, PPBS, and HbA1c levels, as well as improvements in clinical symptoms. However, the Metformin + Qurs-e-Ziabetes group exhibited greater improvements in all measured parameters compared to the Metformin-only group. At the 9-month follow-up, HbA1c decreased from 8.60 ± 0.25% to 7.10 ± 0.23% in the combination group, compared to a decrease from 8.42 ± 0.62% to 7.48 ± 0.56% in the Metformin group. Similarly, BMI reduced more significantly in the combination group (25.34 ± 1.84) compared to the Metformin group (27.83 ± 1.14). Conclusion: The combination of Metformin and Qurs-e-Ziabetes provides enhanced glycemic control and improved clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM compared to Metformin alone. These results suggest that Qurs-e-Ziabetes may have a complementary role in the management of T2DM, improving both glycemic control and symptom relief.