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# Gymnema sylvestre supplements help type 2 diabetes mellitus
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/gymnema_sylvestre_helps_type_2_diabetes_mellitus_1107141211/
- Published: 2014-11-07T11:10:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:51:11.000Z
- Description: A study in the Indian Journal of Pharmacological Science found 21 days of Gymnema sylvestre ethanol extract improved lipids, insulin and blood pressure in diabetic mice fed a high-fat diet. A 1990 trial in 22 people with type 2 diabetes reported lower blood glucose and reduced drug doses.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Herbs, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Friday Nov 07, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study In Indian Journal of Pharmacological Science suggests supplementation with a Gymnema sylvestre ethanol extract may help obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The study led by V. Kumar at KIET School of Pharmacy in India and colleagues shows a 21-day supplementation with Gymnema sylvestre ethanol extract significantly improved metabolic parameters such as lipid profile, insulin, and blood pressure in mice with antibiotic-induced diabetes mellitus that were fed a high fat diet.

Gymnema sylvestre is an herb native to southern and central India and Sri Lanka. It has been used as a herbal medicine to control blood sugar among other things.

The study concluded "water soluble fraction of Gymnema sylvestre ethanol extract could be useful intervention in the treatment of obesity and type-2 diabetes mellitus."

In 1990, another study published by another group of Indian researchers actually demonstrated the efficacy of Gymnema sylvestre at treating type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans.

In that study, 22 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on conventional oral blood sugar controlling medications took an extract from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre (GS4) for 18 to o20 months.

As a result, the dietary supplement significantly reduced blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins and increased insulin levels. 

Because of its antihyperglycaemic activity of Gymnema sylvestre, the supplement allowed patients to reduce the dose of other antihyperglycaemia agents. Five patients were able to completely control blood sugar only with the Gymnema sylvestre supplement.

The study concluded that "the beta cells may be regenerated/repaired in Type 2 diabetic patients on GS4 supplementation." 

The study was conducted by K Baskaran and colleagues at Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences in Madras, India and published in 1990 in Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

In 2012, another study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry also indicates supplementation with Gymnema sylvestre extracts can help fight type 2 diabetes mellitus.

That study led by M.H. Kang at Hoseo University in Asan, South Korea and colleagues shows supplementation with Gymnema sylvestre extracts decreased blood sugar to normal levels in diabetic rats.

The researchers found Gymnema sylvestre extracts increased the antioxidant capability and reduced oxidative stress which is associated with diabetes mellitus. 

Gymnema sylvestre is available as a dietary supplement. Remember though that many other effective supplements such as spirulina, curcumin and bitter melon may also be used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. (David Liu)

Sources:

Kumar V, Bhandari U, Tripathi CD, Khanna G. Protective Effect of Gymnema sylvestre Ethanol Extract on High Fat Diet-induced Obese Diabetic Wistar Rats. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2014 Jul; 76(4):315-22.

Baskaran K, Kizar Ahamath B, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Shanmugasundaram ER. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3):295-300.

Kang MH, Lee MS, Choi MK, Min KS, Shibamoto T, Hypoglycemic activity of Gymnema sylvestre extracts on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in diabetic rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Mar 14; 60(10):2517-24\.