The Effects of Satureja hortensis L. Dried Leaves on Serum Sugar, Lipid Profiles, hs-CRP, and Blood Pressure in Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Metabolic syndrome, which includes multiple metabolic disorders in an individual, has a direct relationship with incidence of various heart diseases. Satureja hortensis L. has been considered to treat this syndrome because its active compounds have valuable therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, vasodilator, and antihyperlipidemic properties as well as being antioxidants and free radical scavengers. This double-blind randomized clinical trial assessed the effects of dried leave of S. hortensis on the serum sugar levels, lipid profiles, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), and blood pressures of 60 metabolic syndrome patients referred to the healthy heart institute in Shiraz, Iran during 2013. First, components from the essential oil of the plant powder were identified using GC-MS instrumentation. Then, capsules of the plant were used in a double-blind randomized and controlled clinical trial involving 47 metabolic syndrome patients who were treated with either dried leaves from S. hortensis or a placebo capsule once daily for 10 weeks. This study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (No. IRCT2014012616372N1). At the end of the study, group changes (mean ± SD) in the group that received S. hortensis showed significant reductions in total cholesterol (239.4 ± 34.6 to 222.3 ± 38.0; P < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (138.6 ± 25.2 to 117.6 ± 20.8; P < 0.001), triglycerides (TG) (220.0 ± 67.5 to 187.5 ± 65.9; P < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (83.1 ± 11.3 to 75.3 ± 9.5; P < 0.001), and hs-CRP (3.03 ± 1.84 to 1.51 ± 1.76; P < 0.05) as well as an elevation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (43.8 ± 7.4 to 47.3 ± 9.6; P < 0.05). In the placebo group, a significant increase was only observed for hs-CRP (2.31 ± 1.18 to 3.32 ± 1.52; P < 0.05). Different outcomes between the groups (means (95% CIs)) revealed statistically significant diminutions in LDL-C when the dosage was 27.1 mg/dL ((-16.3, -37.9); P < 0.001), in TG with a dosage of 39.1 mg/dL ((-19.5, -64.4); P < 0.05), in DBP with a dosage of 7.6 mm/Hg ((-4.3, -11.2); P = 0.001), and in hs-CRP with a dosage of 2.5 ng/mL ((-1.4, -5.1); P < 0.05). When used as a supplement, S. hortensis could be helpful for prevention or improvement of metabolic syndrome symptoms and primary concomitant disorders.