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Research Article Open Access
Volume 5 | Issue 4 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.33696/Neurol.5.100

Efficacy of NeuroHelp Topical Herbal Medicine in Treating Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (DPN)

  • 1Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
  • 2Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 3Cancer Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
  • 4Clinical Research Development Unit (CRDU), Sayad Shirazi Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
  • 5Rutgers Institute for Pharmaceutical Industry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
  • #At the time of the study: PharmD Candidate, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
+ Affiliations - Affiliations

Corresponding Author

Sona Ghorashi, sona.ghorashi@gmail.com, Ourmaan Nezami Narjabad, ourman.nezami2020@gmail.com

Received Date: August 08, 2024

Accepted Date: October 21, 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus and a major cause of disability and poor quality of life in patients with diabetes. In addition, health care costs associated with DPN are increasing. Given the challenges and limitations of current pharmacological treatments, traditional herbal remedies present a viable option. As a result, we formulated a new topical treatment, “NeuroHelp”. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbal medicine “NeuroHelp” in combination with oral gabapentin, and B vitamins on DPN symptoms.

Methods: We conducted a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial with parallel design on 84 type 2 diabetes patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. The 84 eligible patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups, either the intervention group (herbal medicine in combination with oral gabapentin, and B vitamins) or the placebo group (placebo in combination with oral gabapentin, and B vitamins). Topical herbal medicine ingredients were made of Citrullus colocynthis, Matricaria chamomilla, Althaea officinalis, Rheum officinale, Capparis spinosa, and Trigouella foenum graecum. A topical placebo ointment, with a similar appearance, texture and smell to the herbal medicine was made by a medicine manufacturer. Patients were evaluated for tingling feet, feet numbness, pinprick sensation, cold feet, monofilament test results, tuning fork test results, and pain using visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline and three weeks after intervention as primary outcomes.

Results: The mean age of patients was 54.45 ± 8.72 years, 23.81% were male and 76.19% were female. Other baseline characteristics and diabetes relevant parameters revealed no significant differences between the intervention and placebo groups. NeuroHelp herbal medicine in combination with oral gabapentin, and B vitamins significantly reduced VAS for pain (mm) compared to placebo group after three weeks 24.0 ± 22.9 VS. 44.3 ± 33.1 (p<0.002). It also reduced diabetic neuropathy symptoms after three weeks compared to the placebo group including tingling feet 0 vs. 20 (47.60%) (p<0.001), foot numbness 2 (4.80%) vs. 13 (31%) (p<0.001), pinprick sensation 2 (4.8%) vs. 13 (31%) (p<0.001), and cold feet 0 vs. 5 (11.90%) (p=0.049).

Conclusions: Our study showed that three weeks topical application of NeuroHelp in combination with oral gabapentin, and B vitamins could improve diabetic neuropathy symptoms. 

Keywords

Diabetic neuropathy, Type 2 diabetes, Neuropathic pain, Clinical trial, Herbal medicine, Topical ointment, Uncontrolled blood glucose

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