Gymnema
Scientific names: Gymnema sylvestre, Periploca sylvestris
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Alternate names: Gemnema Melicida, Gimnema, Gur-Mar, Gurmar, Gurmari, Gurmarbooti, Gurmur, Gymnéma, Gymnéma Sylvestre, Madhunashini, Merasingi, Meshasring, Meshashringi, Miracle Plant, Periploca of the Woods, Shardunika, Sinnuga, Sirukurincha, Vishani
Actions: Anticancer, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Cytochrome P450, Hypoglycemic, Immunomodulatory, Lipid, Taste
Background
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.
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.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Gymnema is possibly safe when taken appropriately for up to 20 months.
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.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
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.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using gymnema for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
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.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
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)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
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 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
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 for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
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.
Phenacetin
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gymnema might decrease how quickly the body breaks down phenacetin. This might increase the effects and side effects of phenacetin.
Tolbutamide (Orinase)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gymnema might increase how quickly the body breaks down tolbutamide. This might decrease the effects of tolbutamide.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Gymnema might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Oleic acid: Gymnema might decrease the body's absorption of oleic acid.
Oleic acid: Gymnema might decrease the body's absorption of oleic acid.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) ext. 200 mg equiv. gymnemic acids 50 mg
- Total Chromium 223 μg
- Chromium chloride hexahydrate 1 mg equiv. chromium 209 μg
- Chromium nicotinate 117 μg equiv. chromium 14 μg
- Magnesium phosphate pentahydrate 106 mg equiv. magnesium 22 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 10 mg equiv. manganese 2 mg
- Selenomethionine 20 μg equiv. selenium 8 μg
- Zinc gluconate 116 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 50 mg
- Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3) 20 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 150 μg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 100 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 91.6 mg
Practitioner product
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Per capsule:
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) ext. 100 mg equiv. gymnemic acids 25 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia ext. 66.67 mg
- Trigonella foenum-graecum ext. 4 mg
- Alpha lipoic acid 200 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 35 mg
- Chromium chloride hexahydrate 256.3 µg equiv. chromium 50 µg
- Chromium picolinate 133.5 µg equiv. chromium 16.6 µg
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 8.3 µg equiv. vitamin D 333 IU
- Zinc amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. zinc 10 mg
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Per tablet:
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Practitioner product
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Per tablet:
- Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) ext. 250 mg equiv. gymnemic acids 62.5 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia ext. 100 mg
- Garcinia cambogia ext. 333 mg
- Chromic chloride hexahydrate 1.03 mg equiv. chromium 0.2 mg
- Chromium picolinate 200 µg equiv. chromium 25 µg
- Magnesium glycinate 177.3 mg equiv. magnesium 25 mg
- Magnesium citrate 154.33 mg equiv. magnesium 25 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 31.95 mg equiv. zinc 10 mg
- Glutamine 50 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 9.12 mg equiv. pyridoxine 7.5 mg
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This monograph was last reviewed on 04/07/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 15/06/2018 20:47:44. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
