Gymnema sylvestre and diabetes
Is Gymnema the future for diabetes treatment? Gymnema sylvestre ___ an introduction! It is a slow-growing medicinal woody climber found in central and peninsular India and an antidiabetic plant used in folk, ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines. It is known as Periploca of the woods in English, meshashringi in Sanskrit, waldschlinge in German; podapatri in Telugu, and gurmar in Hindi. All these names mean “ destroyer of sugar ”. Hooper in 1887 told that the leaves, when chewed, abolish the taste of sweetness . Power and Tutin identified the anti-saccharine property in a fraction called gymnemic acid. Mechanism of action According to “ The Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition ” several pharmacological actions of the herb helps it to induce hypoglycemic effects. The herb has been known to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells by increasing the cell membrane permeability. It increases absorption or utilization of glucose by insulin...