GYMNEMA: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) is a plant native to India and Africa with a history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. It has little evidence of health benefits.

Gymnema contains chemicals that reduce how much sugar the stomach absorbs. It might also increase the amount of insulin in the body and increase the growth of cells in the pancreas, which is where the body makes insulin.

People use gymnema for diabetes, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

We currently have no information for GYMNEMA overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Gymnema is possibly safe when taken appropriately for up to 20 months.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Gymnema is possibly safe when taken appropriately for up to 20 months.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if gymnema is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Surgery: Gymnema might affect blood sugar levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using gymnema at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with GYMNEMA
Gymnema might lower blood sugar levels. Taking gymnema along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with GYMNEMA
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Gymnema might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with GYMNEMA
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Gymnema might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Phenacetin interacts with GYMNEMA
Gymnema might decrease how quickly the body breaks down phenacetin. This might increase the effects and side effects of phenacetin.
Tolbutamide (Orinase) interacts with GYMNEMA
Gymnema might increase how quickly the body breaks down tolbutamide. This might decrease the effects of tolbutamide.

Minor Interaction

Be watchful with this combination

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with GYMNEMA
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Gymnema might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of gymnema might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Ananthan, R., Latha, M., Pari, L., Ramkumar, K. M., Baskar, C. G., and Bai, V. N. Effect of Gymnema montanum on blood glucose, plasma insulin, and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. J Med Food 2003;6(1):43-49. View abstract.

Baskaran, K, Ahamath, BK, Shanmugasundaram, KR, and et all. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharm 1990;30:295-305.

Bishayee, A and Chatterjee, M. Hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic effects of oral gymnema sylvestre R. Br. leaf extract in albino rats fed a high fat diet. Phytother Res 1994;8:118-120.

Chattopadhyay RR. Possible mechanism of antihyperglycemic effect of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract, Part I. Gen Pharm 1998;31(3):495-496.

Gholap, S. and Kar, A. Effects of Inula racemosa root and Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts in the regulation of corticosteroid induced diabetes mellitus: involvement of thyroid hormones. Pharmazie 2003;58(6):413-415. View abstract.

Gupta SS and Variyar MC. Experimental studies on pituitary diabetes IV. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre and Coccinia indica against the hyperglycemia response of somatotrophin and corticotrophin hormones. Indian J Med Res 1964;52:200-207.

Jiang, H. [Advances in the study on hypoglycemic constituents of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) Schult]. Zhong.Yao Cai. 2003;26(4):305-307. View abstract.

Khare AK, Tondon RN, and Tewari JP. Hypoglycaemic activity of an indigenous drug (Gymnema sylvestre, "Gurmar") in normal and diabetic persons. Indian J Physiol Pharm 1983;27:257-258.

Kothe A and Uppal R. Antidiabetic effects of Gymnema sylvestre in NIDDM - a short study. Indian J Homeopath Med 1997;32(1-2):61-62, 66.

Murakami, N, Murakami, T, Kadoya, M, and et all. New hypoglycemic constituents in "gymnemic acid" from Gymnema sylvestre. Chem Pharm Bull 1996;44(2):469-471.

Okabayashi, Y., Tani, S., Fujisawa, T., Koide, M., Hasegawa, H., Nakamura, T., Fujii, M., and Otsuki, M. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1990;9(2):143-148. View abstract.

Porchezhian, E. and Dobriyal, R. M. An overview on the advances of Gymnema sylvestre: chemistry, pharmacology and patents. Pharmazie 2003;58(1):5-12. View abstract.

Preuss, H. G., Garis, R. I., Bramble, J. D., Bagchi, D., Bagchi, M., Rao, C. V., and Satyanarayana, S. Efficacy of a novel calcium/potassium salt of (-)-hydroxycitric acid in weight control. Int.J Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 2005;25(3):133-144. View abstract.

Shanmugasundaram ERB, Gopinath KL, Shanmugasundaram KR, and et al. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin-diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. J Ethnopharm 1990;30:265-279.

Shanmugasundaram ERB, Rajeswari G, Baskaran K, and et al. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharm 1990;30(3):281-294.

Shanmugasundaram KR, Panneerselvam C, Samudram P, and et al. Enzyme changes and glucose utilisation in diabetic rabbits: the effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. J Ethnopharm 1983;7:205-234.

Sinsheimer JE, Rao GS, and McIlhenny HM. Constituents from Gymnema sylvestre leaves V. Isolation and preliminary characterization of the gymnemic acids. J Pharm Sci 1970;59(5):622-628.

Srivastava Y, Bhatt HV, Prem AS, and et al. Hypoglycemic and life-prolonging properties of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in diabetic rats. Israel J Med Sci 1985;21:540-542.

Terasawa H, Miyoshi M, and Imoto T. Effects of long-term administration of Gymnema sylvestre watery-extract on variations of body weight, plasma glucose, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and insulin in Wistar fatty rats. Yonago Acta Med 1994;37:117-127.

Tominaga M, Kimura M, Sugiyama K, and et al. Effects of seishin-renshi-in and Gymnema sylvestre on insulin resistance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabet Res Clin Pract 1995;29:11-17.

Wang LF, Luo H, Miyoshi M, and et al. Inhibitory effect of gymnemic acid on intestinal absorption of oleic acid in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1998;76:1017-1023.

Xie, J. T., Wang, A., Mehendale, S., Wu, J., Aung, H. H., Dey, L., Qiu, S., and Yuan, C. S. Anti-diabetic effects of Gymnema yunnanense extract. Pharmacol Res 2003;47(4):323-329. View abstract.

Yoshikawa, M., Murakami, T., Kadoya, M., Li, Y., Murakami, N., Yamahara, J., and Matsuda, H. Medicinal foodstuffs. IX. The inhibitors of glucose absorption from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. BR. (Asclepiadaceae): structures of gymnemosides a and b. Chem.Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1997;45(10):1671-1676. View abstract.

Ananthan R, Baskar C, NarmathaBai V, et al. Antidiabetic effect of Gymnema montanum leaves: effect on lipid peroxidation induced oxidative stress in experimental diabetes. Pharmacol Res 2003;48:551-6. View abstract.

Arunachalam KD, Arun LB, Annamalai SK, Arunachalam AM. Potential anticancer properties of bioactive compounds of Gymnema sylvestre and its biofunctionalized silver nanoparticles. Int J Nanomedicine. 2014;10:31-41. View abstract.

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

Devangan S, Varghese B, Johny E, Gurram S, Adela R. The effect of Gymnema sylvestre supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res 2021;35(12):6802-6812. View abstract.

Fabio GD, Romanucci V, De Marco A, Zarrelli A. Triterpenoids from Gymnema sylvestre and their pharmacological activities. Molecules. 2014;19(8):10956-81. View abstract.

Gaytán Martínez LA, Sánchez-Ruiz LA, Zuñiga LY, González-Ortiz M, Martínez-Abundis E. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre administration on glycemic control, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity in patients with impaired glucose tolerance. J Med Food. 2021;24(1):28-32. View abstract.

Head KA. Type 1 diabetes: prevention of the disease and its complications. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 1998;180:72-84.

Kamble B, Gupta A, Moothedath I, Khatal L, Janrao S, Jadhav A, et al. Effects of Gymnema sylvestre extract on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of glimepiride in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Chem Biol Interact. 2016;245:30-8. View abstract.

Katsukawa H, Imoto T, Ninomiya Y. Induction of salivary gurmarin-binding proteins in rats fed gymnema-containing diets. Chem Senses 1999;24:387-92. View abstract.

Luo H, Kashiwagi A, Shibahara T, Yamada K. Decreased bodyweight without rebound and regulated lipoprotein metabolism by gymnemate in genetic multifactor syndrome animal. Mol Cell Biochem 2007;299:93-8. View abstract.

Nakamura Y, Tsumura Y, Tonogai Y, Shibata T. Fecal steroid excretion is increased in rats by oral administration of gymnemic acids contained in Gymnema sylvestre leaves. J Nutr 1999;129(6):1214-22. View abstract.

Persaud SJ, Al-Majed H, Raman A, Jones PM. Gymnema sylvestre stimulates insulin release in vitro by increased membrane permeability. J Endocrinol 1999;163:207-12. View abstract.

Philips CA, Theruvath AH, Ravindran R. Toxic hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia after dual homeopathic remedies and Gymnema sylvestre use. BMJ Case Rep 2022;15(3):e247867. View abstract.

Preuss HG, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, et al. 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. Diabetes Obes Metab 2004;6:171-180. View abstract.

Rammohan B, Samit K, Chinmoy D, et al. Human cytochrome P450 enzyme modulation by gymnema sylvestre: a predictive safety evaluation by LC-MS/MS. Pharmacogn Mag. 2016 Jul;12(Suppl 4):S389-S394. View abstract.

Satdive RK, Abhilash P, Fulzele DP. Antimicrobial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract. Fitoterapia 2003;74:699-701. View abstract.

Shanmugasundaram ER, Rajeswari G, Baskaran K, et al. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;30:281-94. View abstract.

Shiyovich A, Sztarkier I, Nesher L. Toxic hepatitis induced by Gymnema sylvestre, a natural remedy for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Med Sci. 2010;340(6):514-7. View abstract.

Singh VK, Dwivedi P, Chaudhary BR, Singh R. Immunomodulatory effect of Gymnema sylvestre (R.Br.) leaf extract: an in vitro study in rat model. PLoS One. 2015;10(10): :e0139631. View abstract.

Sinsheimer JE, Subba-Rao G, McIlhenny HM. Constitents from G sylvestre leaves: isolation and preliminary characterization of the gymnemic acids. J Pharmacol Sci 1970;59:622-8.

Tiwari P, Mishra BN, Sangwan NS. Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Gymnema sylvestre: an important medicinal plant. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:830285. View abstract.

Turner S, Diako C, Kruger R, et al. The Effect of a 14-Day gymnema sylvestre Intervention to Reduce Sugar Cravings in Adults. Nutrients 2022;14(24):5287. View abstract.

Turner S, Diako C, Kruger R, Wong M, Wood W, Rutherfurd-Markwick K, Ali A. Consuming Gymnema sylvestre reduces the desire for high-sugar sweet foods. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1046. View abstract.

Vaghela M, Iyer K, Pandita N. In vitro inhibitory effect of gymnema sylvestre extracts and total gymnemic acids fraction on select cytochrome P450 activities in rat liver microsomes. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2017 Oct 10. View abstract.

Vaghela M, Sahu N, Kharkar P, Pandita N. In vivo pharmacokinetic interaction by ethanolic extract of gymnema sylvestre with CYP2C9 (tolbutamide), CYP3A4 (amlodipine) and CYP1A2 (phenacetin) in rats. Chem Biol Interact. 2017 Dec 25;278:141-151. View abstract.

Yeh GY, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ, Phillips RS. Systematic review of herbs and dietary supplements for glycemic control in diabetes. Diabetes Care 2003;26:1277-94. View abstract.

Zamani M, Ashtary-Larky D, Nosratabadi S, et al. The effects of Gymnema Sylvestre supplementation on lipid profile, glycemic control, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res 2023;37(3):949-964. View abstract.

Zuniga LY, Gonzalez-Ortiz M, Martinez-Abundis E. Effect of gymnema sylvestre administration on metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion. J Med Food. 2017 Aug;20(8):750-54. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

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GYMNEMA - Uses, Side Effects, and More

Overview

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with GYMNEMA

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with GYMNEMA

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with GYMNEMA

Phenacetin interacts with GYMNEMA

Tolbutamide (Orinase) interacts with GYMNEMA

Minor Interaction

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with GYMNEMA

Dosing

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