Gymnema Sylvestre: Restoration of the Pancreas, - Beta Cells specifically

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Gymnema Sylvestre: Restoration of Pancreatic Beta Cells

JoAnn Guest

May 22, 2003 11:59 PDT

 

GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE

 

Gymnema Sylvestre (family Asclepiadaceae) is a woody climber that

grows in tropical forests of the central and southern parts of

India, it has been used as a treatment for diabetes mellitus since

ancient times.

 

The first scientific confirmation of this traditional use in human

diabetics came almost 70 years ago when it was demonstrated that the

leaves of GS reduced urine glucose in diabetics.

 

Four years later it was shown that GS had a blood glucose lowering

effect when there was residual pancreatic function, but was without

effect on animals lacking pancreatic function, suggesting a direct

effect on the pancreas.

 

EVIDENCE OF A MIRACLE

 

In 1990 a series of published studies on Gymnema Sylvestre Extract

lifted this herb from interesting to revolutionary.

 

To begin with, it was shown that the administration of Gymnema

Sylvestre Extract to diabetic animals not only resulted in improved

glucose homeostasis, this improvement was accompanied by

regeneration of

beta cells in the pancreas.

 

In the words of the authors, " This herbal therapy appears to bring

about blood glucose homeostasis through increased serum insulin

levels

provided by repair/regeneration of the endocrine pancreas.

 

" To my knowledge, this is the only compound that has shown the

ability

to lessen indicators of diabetes by directly repairing/regenerating

the

pancreas cells responsible for producing insulin.

 

As abnormalities in beta cell number and/or function are directly

related to both Type I (insulin dependent) and Type II diabetes

mellitus, it appeared that GS and Gymnema Sylvestre Extract was a

major discovery in the battle against one of the most common

disorders in the

world.

 

Also in 1990, this same research team published results on their

treatment of both Type I and Type II diaetics and Gymnema Sylvestre

Extract over a period of more than 2 years.

 

In the case if Type II diabetics, Gymnema Sylvestre Extract resulted

in

significant reductions in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin,

glycosylated plasma proteins, and conventional drug dosage.

 

At the beginning of the study all participants were taking oral

antidiabetic medication, and treatment with Gymnema Sylvestre

Extract

resulted not only in a lowering of oral medication necessity, but

almost

25% of the participants were able to discontinue conventional oral

medication and maintain blood glucose homeostasis with Gymnema

Sylvestre

Extract alone.

 

Additionally,

Gymnema Sylvestre Extract significantly improved cholesterol,

 

triglyceride, and free fatty acid level's

 

that were elevated in the study participants.

 

According to Dr. Baskaran and Dr. Ahamath, of the Department of

Biochemistry, Post-Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,

Madras,

India, the therapeutic properties of Gymnema Sylvestre, an extract

from

the leaves of Gymnema Sylvestre, in controlling hyperglycaemia was

investigated in 22 Type II diabetic patients on conventional oral

anti-hyperglycaemic agents.

 

Gymnema Sylvestre, 400 mg/day) was administered for 18-20 months as

a

supplement to the conventional oral drugs.

 

During Gymnema Sylvestre supplementation, the patients showed a

significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemolglobin

and

glycosylated plasma proteins, and conventional drug dosage could be

decreased.

 

Five of the 22 diabetic patients were able to discontinue their

conventional drug and maintain their blood glucose homeostasis with

Gymnema Sylvestre alone.

 

These data suggest that the beta cells may be regenerated/repaired

in

Type II diabetic patients on Gymnema Sylvestre supplementation.

 

This is supported by the appearance of raised insulin levels in the

serum of patients after Gymnema Sylvestre supplementation.

 

*Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1990;30; 295-300

 

http://home.istar.ca/~hlth2000/gymnema.html

 

JoAnn Guest

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