Gymnema sylvestre, a climbing plant with small yellow flowers, is an herb native to India. It has been used there as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly 2,000 years and its Hindi name translates as "diabetes killer." Scientific research has identified some of the active constituents and validated some of the uses of Gymnema for lowering blood sugar. Consult your doctor about using Gymnema to treat a medical condition.
Blood Sugar-Lowering
Gymnema produced blood sugar-lowering ability, known as hypoglycemic effect, along with three other plants in a study published in the April 2010 issue of the journal, "Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology." The extracts were safe and effective at lowering blood sugar without inducing severe hypoglycemia when combined with a low dose of the diabetic medication glimepiride. Other plants tested in the study were Eugenia jambolana seeds, bitter melon, and fenugreek. Researchers concluded that these plants may be useful at treating diabetes as adjuncts that may reduce the required dosage of standard drugs.
Insulin Secretion
An extract of gymnema, called Om Santal Adivasi, lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin secretion, which signals cells to absorb glucose from the blood, according to a study published in the September 2010 issue of the journal "Phytotherapy Research." Study participants who took 1 g per day of the gymnema extract showed significant reductions in fasting blood sugar and in post-prandial blood sugar -- elevations that occur immediately after meals. Om Santal Adivasi exerted direct effects on insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Researchers concluded that this gymnema extract may prove useful as an alternative therapy for lowering blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.
Pancreas Regeneration
Gymnema promotes regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, according to researchers at the Department of Plant Science, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India. In a study, published in the November 2010 issue of the journal "Phytomedicine," on laboratory animals, gymnema supplementation increased liver, pancreas and whole body weight in diabetic animals and increased regeneration of beta cells compared to a control group that did not receive gymnema. Researchers predict that gymnema may be useful as a pharmaceutical drug for treatment of insulin-dependant diabetics.
Glucose Absorption and Side Effects
Take gymnema with food, as side effects such as mild gastrointestinal upset may occur when this herb is taken on an empty stomach. Because of its ability to prevent absorption of sugar, gymnema can cause hypoglycemia -- dangerously low blood sugar -- in some people. Take gymnema only with your doctor's supervision to avoid potentially serious complications
References
- "Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology"; Complementary and Comparative Study on Hypoglycemic and Antihyperglycemic Activity of Various Extracts of Eugenia Jambolana Seed, Momordica Charantia Fruits, Gymnema Sylvestre, and Trigonella Foenum Graecum Seeds in Rats; M. Yadav, et al.; April 2010 Yadav M,
- "Phytotherapy Research"; A Novel Gymnema Sylvestre Extract Stimulates Insulin Secretion from Human Islets in Vivo and in Vitro; A. Al-romaiyan, et al.; September 2010
- "Phytomedicine"; In Vitro Callus and in Vivo Leaf Extract of Gymnema Sylvestre Stimulate β-cells Regeneration and Anti-diabetic Activity in Wistar Rats; A. Ahmed, et al.; November 2010
- "The Male Herbal: The Definitive Health Care Book for Men and Boys"; James Green; 2007
- FlowersofIndia.com: Gurmar
Member Comments