Gymnema Sylvestre

For centuries, Gymnema Sylvestre has been used in Ayurveda, (traditional Indian holistic medicine), to regulate sugar metabolism. The hypoglycemic action of gymnema leaves has been thoroughly documented. Based on extensive research in both humans and animals, it is believed that gymnema boosts the amount of insulin available in the body to process sugar. When chewed, gymnema leaves actually block the taste of sweetness, thereby effectively suppressing the craving for sugar. Studies have also shown that gymnema leaves are effective in lowering serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Natrol uses a pure Gymnema Sylvestre extract (5:1), which is the most desirable form.

Suggested uses for Gymnema Sylvestra include:

Research

Effects of a natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss.
Preuss HG, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Rao CV, Dey DK, Satyanarayana S.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center. May 2004.

Antimicrobial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract


Satdive RK, Abhilash P, Fulzele DP.
Plant Biotechnology and Secondary Products Section, Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India, Dec 2003.

Systematic review of herbs and dietary supplements for glycemic control in diabetes.
Yeh GY, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ, Phillips RS.
Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies
Harvard Medical School, Apr 2003.

Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential.
Grover JK, Yadav S, Vats V.
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, Jun 2002.

Antisweet saponins from Gymnema sylvestre.
Ye W, Liu X, Zhang Q, Che CT, Zhao S.
Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, Feb 2001.

Effect of administration with the extract of Gymnema sylvestre R. Br leaves on lipid metabolism in rats.
Shigematsu N, Asano R, Shimosaka M, Okazaki M. Biosci.
Textile Technol., Shinshu University, Japan. July 2001.

Antihyperglycemic effects of gymnemic acid IV, a compound derived from Gymnema sylvestre leaves in streptozotocin-diabetic mice.
Sugihara Y, Nojima H, Matsuda H, Murakami T, Yoshikawa M, Kimura I. 
Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan, 2000.

Articles

"Gymnema, The Sugar Destroyer"    Chris Kilham,   www.medicinehunter.com.