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Figure 1. Trial participants
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Figure 2. Percentage change in lipid parameters from baseline to 1 month by treatment group. Changes otherwise not statistically significant. *Statistically significant result (p < 0.05) compared with baseline. CHO: Total cholesterol; HDL-C: HDL cholesterol; LDL-C: LDL cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
The genus Sideritis lamiaceae encompasses approximately 140 species [1], growing mainly in the Mediterranean area. Plants of this genus are widely used in folk medicine in Europe and especially in Mediterranean countries owing to their anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antiulcer, digestive and antimicrobial properties [2-4].
More than ten species grow in Greece, among them Sideritis euboea , which is found in the Euboea (Evia) island and is widely consumed as a beverage, known as mountain tea (common Greek name of this plant). S. euboea is gaining an increasing pharmacological interest. Recent in vitro studies demonstrated that aqueous extract derived from S. euboea stimulates osteoblastic cell differentiation while reducing osteoclastogenesis [5,6]. The beneficial effects of aqueous extract of S. euboea on bone metabolism were further confirmed by Dontas et al. using an animal model of osteoporosis [7]. In vitro evidence also indicated that S. euboea possesses potent antioxidant activity [8].
A recent, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study demonstrated significant bifidogenic properties of a functional food containing S. euboea aqueous extract in healthy volunteers consuming their usual diets [9]. Furthermore, recent findings indicated that Sideritis cladestina (species endemic in Greece, specifically, the Peloponnese) consumption enhances the antioxidant defense of the adult rodent brain in a region-specific manner [10].
The present investigation aimed to gather more information about the effects of S. euboea on humans and to evaluate the bioactivity of its aqueous extract, mainly in the cardiovascular system and liver, by assessing serum biochemical parameters such as lipids, hepatic enzymes and insulin resistance, as well as inflammatory markers such as high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), ferritin and homocysteine.
Patients & methods
*Patients & study design
The study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm study with two treatment groups: the intervention group received experimental food and the control group received placebo food. Figure 1 depicts the flow chart of trial participants. Fifty-four healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to consume S. euboea aqueous extract food (n = 27,...