Gymnema Sylvestre

Gymnema sylvestre is emerging as a potential treatment for the management of diabetes. The phyto-constituents of Gymnema sylvestre are used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity (ref 2). Polyherbal formulations containing aqueous extracts of Gymnema sylvestre and other herbs show hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rats as well as reversed other diabetes complications (ref 3). The chemistry and pharmacology of Gymnema sylvestre has been reviewed based on research papers and patent literature.

Gymnema sylvestre preparations have profound action on modulation of taste, particularly sweet sensations. It is used in treatment of diabetes mellitus and in food additives against obesity and caries. Anti-allergic, antiviral, lipid lowering and other effects have also been reported (ref 6).

Research on crude saponin fraction and five triterpene glycosides derived from methanol extract of leaves of Gymnema sylvestre in diabetic rats indicate that insulin-releasing action of gymnemic acid IV may contribute to the antihyperglycemic effect of leaves of Gymnema sylvestre. Gymnemic acid IV may be an anti-obese and antihyperglycemic pro-drug (ref 7).

Therapeutic potential of Gymnema sylvestre for treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has been examined the results confirm the stimulatory effect of Gymnema sylvestre on insulin release and indicate that Gymnema sylvestre acts by increasing cell permeability, rather than stimulating exocytosis by regulated pathways (ref 8).

In ref 12 studies on diabetic patients to study the anti diabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in NIDDM patients showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins, and conventional drug dosage could be decreased. Data suggest that the beta cells may be regenerated/repaired in Type 2 diabetic patients on GS4 (Gymnema sylvestre aqueous extract) supplementation. GS4 therapy appears to enhance endogenous insulin, possibly by regeneration / revitalization of residual beta cells in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) as suggested by research in ref 13 and 14.

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre on glucose homeostasis in rats suggested the usefulness of Gymnema sylvestre in the treatment of certain classes of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

1. Gymnema sylvestre for Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review.
2. J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Nov; 13(9):977-84
3. Extraction and quantification of gymnemic acids through gymnemagenin from callus cultures of Gymnema sylvestre.
4. Phytochem Anal. 2006 Nov; 17(6):409-13.
5. Effect of Dianex, a herbal formulation on experimentally induced diabetes mellitus.
6. Phytother Res. 2005 May; 19(5):409-15.
7. Advances in the study on hypoglycemic constituents of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.)
8. Zhong Yao Cai. 2003 Apr; 26(4):305-7. Review. Chinese.
9. Effects of Inula racemosa root and Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts in the regulation of corticosteroid induced diabetes mellitus: involvement of thyroid hormones.
10. Pharmazie. 2003 Jun; 58(6):413-5.
11. An overview on the advances of Gymnema sylvestre: chemistry, pharmacology and patents.
12. Pharmazie. 2003 Jan; 58(1):5-12. Review
13. Antihyperglycemic effects of gymnemic acid IV, a compound derived from Gymnema sylvestre leaves in streptozotocin-diabetic mice.
14. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2000;2(4):321-7.
15. Gymnema sylvestre stimulates insulin release in vitro by increased membrane permeability.
16. J Endocrinol. 1999 Nov; 163(2):207-12.
17. Gymnema sylvestre.
18. Altern Med Rev. 1999 Feb;4(1):46-7.
19. Medicinal foodstuffs. IX. The inhibitors of glucose absorption from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. BR. (Asclepiadaceae): structures of gymnemosides a and b.
20. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1997 Oct; 45(10):1671-6.
21. Effects of seishin-renshi-in and Gymnema sylvestre on insulin resistance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
22. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1995 Jul; 29(1):11-7.
23. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.
24. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3):295-300.
25. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
26. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3):281-94.
27. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin-diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts.
28. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3):265-79.
29. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats.
    
    
30. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1990 May-Jun; 9(2):143-8.



31. Hypoglycaemic activity of an indigenous drug (Gymnema sylvestre, ‘Gurmar’) in normal and diabetic persons.



32. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1983 Jul-Sep; 27(3):257-8.