Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar)

HI EVERYBODY....

Here I am again with an interesting topic....

I know u r still wondering from where I got this idea of Gurmar???? What is gurmar???? We never heard of this word????What it do actually????

So the story is that I had started a discussion at LINKEDIN with INDIAN DIETETICS ASSOCIATION group on green tea.... over there a very fine lady Ms. Indubala Shekhawat ask me the use of gurmar, natural sugar substitute in India.... but after that a lots of people started asking me about this gurmar....this makes me to write an article... so here I am to enlighten and provide scientific facts on Gurmar.....

GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE

Gymnema sylvestre is a woody climbing plant that grows in the tropical forests of central and southern India. The leaves lamina is ovate, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, with both surfaces pubescent. The flowers are small bell-shaped yellow color. The leaves are used in herbal medicine preparations. G. 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." The herb is often promoted as an appetite suppressant and weight-loss agent. It is also used in the treatment of asthma, eye complaints, inflammations, family planning and snakebite. In addition, it possesses antimicrobial, antihypercholesterolemic, hepatoprotective and sweet suppressing activities.

G. sylvestre leaves contain triterpene saponins belonging to oleanane and dammarene classes. Oleanane saponins are gymnemic acids and gymnemasaponins, while dammarene saponins are gymnemasides. Besides this, plant constituents flavones, anthraquinones, hentri-acontane, pentatriacontane, α and β-chlorophylls, phytin, resins, d-quercitol, tartaric acid, formic acid, butyric acid, lupeol, β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol. The plant extract also tests positive for alkaloids. Leaves of this species yield acidic glycosides and anthroquinones and their derivatives.

The scientific researches proved that Gurmar help in controlling the following :-

DIABETES MELLITUS

Recent researches showed that formation of Gymnemic acid help in controlling sugar levels in the body. The atomic arrangement of gymnemic acid molecules is similar to that of glucose molecules. Gymnemic acid molecules fill the receptor location in the absorptive external layers of the intestine thereby preventing the sugar molecules absorption by the intestine, which results in low blood sugar level.

An animal experiment conducted by Ahmad etal in 2010 states that the gymnemic acid of leaf and callus extracts of Gymnema sylvestre had significantly increases the regeneration of β-cells in treated rats, when compared with the standard diabetic rats. It could have potential as a pharmaceutical drug for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

Another study done by Al-Romaiyan published in Phytotherpy Research in 2010 demonstrated that an oral administration of novel high molecular weight GS extract, Om Santal Adivasi, (OSA(R)) (1 g/day, 60 days) result in significant increases in circulating insulin and C-peptide, which further help in significant reductions in fasting and post-prandial blood glucose. In vitro measurements using isolated human islets of Langerhans demonstrated direct stimulatory effects of OSA(R) on insulin secretion from human ß-cells, showed that it enhances insulin secretion. These in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that OSA(R) may provide a potential alternative therapy for the hyperglycemia associated with T2DM.

LIPID PROFILE

Leaves of Gymnema sylvestre has another property of reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides. In 2001 an animal study was published in biological pharmaceutical bulletin journal concluded that the Gymnema sylvestre R. Br leaves (GE) decreased the apparent fat digestibility. In addition, the excretion of neutral sterols and acid steroids into feces was increased by GE in both diet groups. Furthermore, GE decreased the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum. On the other hand, blood lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was increased by GE. Moreover, it was suggested that GE influenced cecal fermentation and that propionic acid and acetic acid contents in cecum were significantly increased by GE. Consequently, it was suggested that GE improved serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels through influence over a wide range of lipid metabolism in rats.

OBESITY

A Gymnemic acid formulation also prevents obesity, according to recent researches. Gymnemic acids delay the glucose absorption in the blood. The atomic arrangement of gymnemic acid molecules is similar to that of glucose molecules. These molecules fill the receptor locations on the taste buds thereby preventing its activation by sugar molecules present in the food, thereby curbing the sugar craving.

Obesity is the main consequence from the accumulation of the carbohydrates and fats. Gymnemic acids curb the binding of carbohydrates to the receptors in the intestine and hence, the “empty calories” are taken care of so that the body does not go into obese stage.

G. sylvestre leaves have been also found to cause hypoglycemia in laboratory animals......


DOSAGE AND FEW PRECAUTIONS

• Most human studies have been conducted in diabetic patients and have used 400-600mg of gymnema extract per day in conjunction with conventional oral anti-diabetic medications to lower blood glucose and reduce insulin requirements. In non-diabetics, smaller doses may be effective in helping to control blood sugar and insulin fluctuations – and the associated swings in appetite and food cravings. 
• Because it acts gradually, gymnema extract should be consumed regularly with meals for several days/weeks.
• Dietary supplements containing gymnema are not associated with significant adverse side effects. Mild gastrointestinal upset may occur if gymnema is taken on an empty stomach – so consumption with meals is recommended.
• Studies have also concluded that i can lead to hypoglycemia so the dietitian or physicians need to monitor the level of glucose in blood as well as if cause hypoglycemia then need to reduce the dose...

I hope u like this idea of my article and realy looking forward towards your suggestions... and ideas to add on and make it more informative....as this is an upcoming and evolving research in our nutritional world....

Content Courtesy:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20812281

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2170951/?tool=pubmed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11411567

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20537514

http://www.herbosophy.com.au/research/Gymnema%20research.html

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