Gymnema Sylvestre Extract
Gymnema
member of the milkweed family, Gymnema
sylvestre is native to the tropical
regions of India. Nicknamed the "sugar
destroyer" because the leaves effectively
block sweet tastes in the mouth when
chewed, the herb is often promoted as an
appetite suppressant and weight-loss
agent.
Gymnema sylvestre is a woody climbing
plant that grows in the tropical forests
of central and southern India. The leaves
are used in herbal medicine preparations.
Gymnema 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." Extracts of Gymnema sylvestre leaf
given to patients diabetes on insulin
therapy reduces insulin requirements and
fasting blood sugar levels, and improves
blood sugar control. In study of type II
diabetics, gyrmnema extract given along
with oral hypoglycemic drugs was shown to
improve blood sugar control. The
effectiveness of
Gymnem
a Sylvestre extract
, 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.
Interestingly, generations of people in
India with diabetes have successfully
chewed the leaves to help control blood
sugar. Several small, placebo-controlled
trials indicate that gymnema extracts may
indeed lower blood sugar levels. In those
with type 1 diabetes, gymnema seems to
enhance the action of insulin. In the case
of the far more prevalent type 2
diabetes--also known as non
insulin-dependent diabetes-research
findings indicate that the use of gymnema
may improve blood sugar control and result
in the need for smaller doses of oral
diabetes drugs to control the disease.
Traditional gymnema treat a variety of
other disorders as well, including
digestion problems, cough, constipation,
and malaria. Animal studies indicate a
possible role for gymnema in lowering
cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL
("bad") cholesterol.
