Gymnema Sylvestre May Be Therapeutic for Hyperglycemia

LONDONIn vivo and in vitro observations suggest Om Santal Adivasi (OSA®), a high molecular weight Gymnema sylvestre extract, may provide a potential alternative therapy for the hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Phytotherapy Research (May 17, 2010). Many plant-based products have been suggested as potential anti-diabetic agents, but few have been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in human studies, and little is known of their mechanisms of action. The effects of OSA® on plasma insulin, C-peptide and glucose in a small cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes were examined. Oral administration of 1 g/d OSA for 60 days induced significant increases in circulating insulin and C-peptide, which were associated with significant reductions in fasting and postprandial blood glucose. In vitro measurements using isolated human islets of Langerhans demonstrated direct stimulatory effects of OSA on insulin secretion from human cells, consistent with an in vivo mode of action through enhancing insulin secretion.