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 Gymnema 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.