Posted by Mark Walker on October 14, 1997 at 23:22:28:
In Reply to: Re: Gymnema sylvestre posted by Robin Harrison on October 14, 1997 at 09:53:46:
Thanks Al and Robin for your replies. I'm afraid I should have been more specific. I found a reference to an article, the medline abstract of which follows:
J Ethnopharmacol 1990 Oct;30(3):281-294
Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Shanmugasundaram ER, Rajeswari G, Baskaran K, Rajesh Kumar BR, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Kizar Ahmath B
Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, India.
GS4, a water-soluble extract of the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre, was administered (400 mg/day) to 27 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) on insulin therapy. Insulin requirements came down together with fasting blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and glycosylated plasma protein levels. While serum lipids returned to near normal levels with GS4 therapy, glycosylated haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma protein levels remained higher than controls. IDDM patients on insulin therapy only showed no significant reduction in serum lipids, HbA1c or glycosylated plasma proteins when followed up after 10-12 months. GS4 therapy appears to enhance endogenous insulin, possibly by regeneration/revitalisation of the residual beta cells in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Like you I am skeptical about the possibility of regeneration through the simple oral administration of a fairly common herb. It is as if someone were to tell you that his grandmother's secret recipe for chicken soup can cure the common cold. Possible, perhaps, but not probable. While I am skeptical I am also somewhat surprised that I cannot find any further studies along these lines which either confirm or infirm the beta cell regeneration hypothesis. Hence, obviously, my initial query.
Regards. Mark
P.S. Robin, the initial prognosis is that I am a type 1 member of the club. Hence, I'm looking forward to my very own swine islets. What colors do they come in?