Obesity is an important worldwide public health problem resulted from the accumulation of excessive food energy intake into visceral fat. In addition, a link between obesity and insulin resistance, increased lipid profiles and oxidative stress is documented.

Previous studies reported that obesity is associated with a number of co-morbidities including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and coronary heart disease, osteoarthritis and liver steatosis.

Nowadays there is an increased demand for herbal drugs to treat obesity instead of using synthetic ones, which may have adverse effects and are more expensive.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is native to the Mediterranean region and is used in traditional medicine. Lime is a tree from the citrus family with diverse phytochemicals, including polyphenols and terpenes.

In 2016 a study was conducted to assess the effects of combined administration of Cumin and lime on weight loss and metabolic profiles among subjects with overweight. The results were published in Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal.

This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 72 subjects with overweight, aged 18 - 50 years old. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: Group A received high-dose Cumin and lime capsules (75 mg each, n = 24), group B low-dose Cumin and lime capsules (25 mg each, n = 24) and group C placebos (n = 24) twice daily for eight weeks.

After eight weeks of intervention, compared with low-dose Cumin plus lime and placebo, taking high-dose Cumin plus lime resulted in significant weight loss.

In addition, administration of high-dose Cumin plus lime compared with low-dose Cumin plus lime and placebo, led to a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and a significant rise in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). (1)

This index is useful for measuring insulin sensitivity (IS), which is the inverse of insulin resistance (IR). It has the advantage of that it can be obtained from a fasting blood sample, and is the preferred method for certain types of clinical research. (2)

Moreover, a significant decrease in serum triglycerides, total-cholesterol and low density lipoproteins- (LDL)-cholesterol levels was observed following the consumption of high-dose C. cyminum L. plus lime. (1)

1- Taghizadeh, M., Memarzadeh, M.R., Abedi, F., Sharifi, N., Karamali, F. Fakhrieh Kashan, Z., & Asemi, Z. (2016). The Effect of Cumin cyminum L. Plus Lime Administration on Weight Loss and Metabolic Status in Overweight Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 18(8), e34212. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5065707/pdf/ircmj-18-08-34212.pdf

2- Katz, A., S. Nambi, S., Mather, K., D. Baron, A., A. Follmann, D., Sullivan, G., & J. Quon, M. (2000). Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index: A Simple, Accurate Method for Assessing Insulin Sensitivity in Humans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 85(7), 2402–2410. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/85/7/2402/2851441