Medical Information On The Gymnema Sylvestre Plant
Other Common Names: Gurmarbooti, gurmar, Gymnema Sylvestre
Range: Deccan peninsula, Assam, and some parts of Africa.
Gymnema sylvestre (GS) is a woody climbing plant that grows in the
tropical forests of central and southern India. The leaves are used in
herbal medicine preparations. G. sylvestre is known as "periploca of
the woods" in English and mesbasringi (meaning "ram's horn") in
Sanskrit. The leaves, when chewed, interfere with the ability to taste
sweetness, which explains the Hindi name gurmar - "destroyer of sugar."
Plant constituents include two resins (one soluble in alcohol),
gymnemic acids, saponins, stigmasterol, quercitol, and the amino acid
derivatives betaine, choline and trimethylamine.
Gymnema sylvestre is a stomachic, diuretic, refrigerant, astringent,
and tonic. It has been found to increase urine output and reduce
hyperglycemia in both animal and human studies.
Gymnema has been used in India for the treatment of diabetes for
over 2,000 years. The primary application was for adult-onset diabetes,
a condition for which it continues to be recommended today in India.
The leaves were also used for stomach ailments, constipation, water
retention, and liver disease.
Extracts of G. sylvestre given to patients with type I diabetes on
insulin therapy reduces insulin requirements and fasting blood sugar
levels, and improves blood sugar control. In a study of type II
diabetics, gyrmnema extract given along with oral hypoglycemic drugs
was shown to improve blood sugar control and to either lead to
discontinuation of the medicine or a significantly reduced dosage. It
is interesting to note that gymnema extract given to healthy volunteers
does not produce any blood sugar-lowering, or hypoglycemic, effects.
Gymnema sylvestre is one of the Asclepiad strains that grows in
South-east Asia. Their therapeutic effects for treating diabetes
mellitus, rheumatic arthritis and gout have been well known for a long
time. However, the problem is that GS suppresses sweetness and tastes
bitter. For this study, we chose Gymnema inodorum (GI) instead of GS,
since it has an advantage that it does not suppress sweetness nor is it
bitter in taste. Our studies suggest that the component of GI inhibits
the increase in the blood glucose level by interfering with the
intestinal glucose absorption process.
The effectiveness of GS4, an extract from the leaves of Gymnema
sylvestre, in controlling hyperglycemia was investigated in 22 Type 2
diabetic patients on conventional oral anti-hyperglycemic agents. GS4
(400 mg/day) was administered for 18-20 months as a supplement to the
conventional oral drugs. During GS4 supplementation, the patients
showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated
haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins, and conventional drug
dosage could be decreased. Five of the 22 diabetic patients were able
to discontinue their conventional drug and maintain their blood glucose
homeostasis with GS4 alone. These data suggest that the beta cells may
be regenerated/repaired in Type 2 diabetic patients on GS4
supplementation. This is supported by the appearance of raised insulin
levels in the serum of patients after GS4 supplementation.
No side effects have been reported from using this Ayurvedic botanical. Safety in pregnancy has not been established.
Other Common Names: Gurmarbooti, gurmar, Gymnema Sylvestre
Range: Deccan peninsula, Assam, and some parts of Africa.
Gymnema sylvestre (GS) is a woody climbing plant that grows in the
tropical forests of central and southern India. The leaves are used in
herbal medicine preparations. G. sylvestre is known as "periploca of
the woods" in English and mesbasringi (meaning "ram's horn") in
Sanskrit. The leaves, when chewed, interfere with the ability to taste
sweetness, which explains the Hindi name gurmar - "destroyer of sugar."
Plant constituents include two resins (one soluble in alcohol),
gymnemic acids, saponins, stigmasterol, quercitol, and the amino acid
derivatives betaine, choline and trimethylamine.
Gymnema sylvestre is a stomachic, diuretic, refrigerant, astringent,
and tonic. It has been found to increase urine output and reduce
hyperglycemia in both animal and human studies.
Gymnema has been used in India for the treatment of diabetes for
over 2,000 years. The primary application was for adult-onset diabetes,
a condition for which it continues to be recommended today in India.
The leaves were also used for stomach ailments, constipation, water
retention, and liver disease.
Extracts of G. sylvestre given to patients with type I diabetes on
insulin therapy reduces insulin requirements and fasting blood sugar
levels, and improves blood sugar control. In a study of type II
diabetics, gyrmnema extract given along with oral hypoglycemic drugs
was shown to improve blood sugar control and to either lead to
discontinuation of the medicine or a significantly reduced dosage. It
is interesting to note that gymnema extract given to healthy volunteers
does not produce any blood sugar-lowering, or hypoglycemic, effects.
Gymnema sylvestre is one of the Asclepiad strains that grows in
South-east Asia. Their therapeutic effects for treating diabetes
mellitus, rheumatic arthritis and gout have been well known for a long
time. However, the problem is that GS suppresses sweetness and tastes
bitter. For this study, we chose Gymnema inodorum (GI) instead of GS,
since it has an advantage that it does not suppress sweetness nor is it
bitter in taste. Our studies suggest that the component of GI inhibits
the increase in the blood glucose level by interfering with the
intestinal glucose absorption process.
The effectiveness of GS4, an extract from the leaves of Gymnema
sylvestre, in controlling hyperglycemia was investigated in 22 Type 2
diabetic patients on conventional oral anti-hyperglycemic agents. GS4
(400 mg/day) was administered for 18-20 months as a supplement to the
conventional oral drugs. During GS4 supplementation, the patients
showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated
haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins, and conventional drug
dosage could be decreased. Five of the 22 diabetic patients were able
to discontinue their conventional drug and maintain their blood glucose
homeostasis with GS4 alone. These data suggest that the beta cells may
be regenerated/repaired in Type 2 diabetic patients on GS4
supplementation. This is supported by the appearance of raised insulin
levels in the serum of patients after GS4 supplementation.
No side effects have been reported from using this Ayurvedic botanical. Safety in pregnancy has not been established.
- Shimizu K, Ozeki M, Tanaka K, Itoh K, Nakajyo S, Urakawa N,
Atsuchi M. Suppression of glucose absorption by extracts from the
leaves of Gymnema inodorum. - Baskaran K, Kizar Ahamath B, Radha
Shanmugasundaram K, Shanmugasundaram ER J Ethnopharmacol 1990
Oct;30(3):295-300 - Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema
sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.
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