Aims and Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by lack of insulin secretion or inability of cells to use insulin. Various methods are used to treat the disease; however they are associated with many problems. Therefore, access to novel methods of treatment and prevention of the disease is of great importance. This study investigated the impacts of a native probiotic of Iran and cumin plant extract on reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-five male Wistar rats aged 4 weeks, with same weighs of 110-130 g were selected. After 2 weeks of adaptation, they were made diabetic by streptozotocin and divided randomly into normal control, diabetic control, probiotic receiving diabetic, cumin receiving diabetic, and probiotic plus cumin receiving diabetic groups. The probiotic used was Bacillus subtilis JQ61819, purchased as lyophilized powder (1×10⁹ cfu/g) from Takgene Co., and cumin extracts were purchased from Barij Essence pharmaceutical Co. The rats were daily fed with the probiotic and cumin through gavage using a needle. After the treatment period, the rats were anesthetized and blood samples were taken from their hearts, and sugar and lipids were measured in serum using appropriate kits.

Results: Bacillus subtilis and cumin extract lowered blood sugar by 61% and cholesterol by 44% and increased triglycerides by 14% in diabetic Wistar rat models.

Conclusion: The use of indigenous probiotic Bacillus subtilis alone or in combination with cumin extract may be useful in controlling blood sugar in patients with diabetes.