Podapatri (Gymnema Sylvestre) leaves known to control blood sugar high on the success of its recently launched herbal health drink, Nannari Sherbat, the Girijan Cooperative Corporation Limited (GCC) in Andhra Pradesh is now brewing herbal tea for diabetics as well as those looking to shed some flab.The main ingredient of the herbal tea is Podapatri leaf (scientific name Gymnema Sylvestre, which is also known as Gurmar or Meshshringi), which is believed to control diabetes.
GCC is planning to market this healthy beverage in the form of tea bags and hopes to begin trials of the new product in a couple of months.
The Podapatri leaves and roots have been used in ayurvedic medicines over centuries. “These leaves help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and check the craving for sweets. Many ayurvedic companies in Kerala purchase Podapatri leaves from Andhra Pradesh. The leaves work by slowing down the absorption of sugar in the blood and conversion of sugar into fat,“ said a source.
“When we launched Nannari Sharbat, many citizens asked us why were not mulling a product for diabetic patients. We have been discussing the product for the past 25 days. It will not only be helpful for diabetic patients, but can also be used by everyone, including those on weight management regimes,“ GCC vice chairman and MD, ASPS Ravi Kumar, told INNLIVE.
According to Ravi Kumar, GCC is mulling setting up a small plant for herbal tea processing at either S Kota or Tirupati, where the raw material is available.GCC is also looking at the possibility of setting up the plant at Srisailam, where it has a branch office.
“We are planning to make this product not with a profit motive but so that it can create indirect employment and help diabetic patients. Only GCC has the network and resources to procure the material,“ the MD added.
Nannari Sharbat, which was launched on April 3, has seen sales of nearly 25,000 bottles by April end, he said.
“We had set up a small Nannari Sharbat plant that could manufacture only 1,000 bottles per day. However, this has not been sufficient to meet the increasing public demand for the product. Though corporates have come forward to buy the sharbat in bulk, we have decided to restrict the sales to retail consumers only,“ Ravi Kumar said.
On the other hand, scores of indigenous plant species with medicinal value are vanishing from the Eastern Ghats and coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh as indiscriminate exploitation and unscientific method of extracting these plants is hampering their regeneration and resulting in escalation of costs of herbal medicines.
Biodiversity in the region is being adversely affected by untrained locals extracting medicinal plants unscientifically, without planting and seeding, at the behest of middlemen who are associated with herbal product exporters or Ayurvedic drug manufacturers, point out experts.
"Plants like Saptarangi, one of the very few herbs used in anti-diabetic medicines that is found in the marshy lands, is becoming scarce and so is Sidacordisolia that is used for arthritis and rheumatic disorders and is found in the Eastern Ghats," said ayurvedic physician K Jayakrishna.
V Susheela, an ayurvedic doctor from Sree Aurvedic Hospital, said, "Plants such as Satavari used for curing gynaecological disorders, Sariba for skin ailments, Aswagandha for curing anxiety plus neurosis and sarpagandha for treating hypertension are in need of adequate conservation.
The cost of herbal medicines has risen 4 to 5 times in the last 2 to 3 years due to the limited availability of certain herbs as well as the hike in prices of gold and mercury, which are important mineral ingredients for ayurvedic preparations. Proper inspection from the AYUSH (Ayurveda Yoga Unani Sidha and Homepathy) department is required to check the indiscriminate and unscientific exploitation and trafficking of rare herbal plants."
"Deforestation and unscientific extraction are rampant in Eastern Ghats and other coastal belts of AP, which is a treasure house of medicinal plants and herbs. The local tribes are given a few bucks by the middlemen employed by Ayurvedic companies who remove all the endemic plants at the same time without enabling propagation or sowing them elsewhere.
These plant collectors don't have the required knowledge of chemistry, botany and Ayurveda and hence scarcity of various species of herbs is rising due to their unscientific activities. Training of these tribals in their local language is needed for scientific extraction of herbs," said Jayakrishna.
Zoologist and plant conservationist professor M Rama Murthy also emphasised on the buy-back policy by pharma companies to encourage conservation and propagation of herbal species. While plants such as podapatri to control sugar level and pashanabedhi to remove kidney stones are almost becoming extinct due to indiscriminate exploitation, there are also other useful herbs such as multi-vitamin greens, which are available in plenty but not exploited due to lack of awareness. A scientific approach towards herb collection is the need of the hour," he said.
All about Podapatra Herbals
This species also goes under many other names such as; Gurmari, Gurmarbooti, Gurmar, periploca of the woods and Meshasringa. The Hindi word Gur-mar (Madhunaashini in Sanskrit, Chakkarakolli in Malayalam,Podapatri in Telugu), literally means sugar destroyer. Meshasringa (Sanskrit).
Habitat
Gymnema Sylvestre is native to India commonly found in the tropical forests of southern and central India. It is widely distributed in Bihar, Central India, Western Ghats and Konkan. Around the world, it found in Australia, Japan, and Vietnam. Leaves and stem are most commonly used in medicinal uses.
Common names
Ajaballi, Ajagandini, Bahalchakshu, Chakshurabahala, Karnika, Kshinavartta, Madhunasini (Sanskrit), Gurmar, Merasingi (Hindi), Mera-singi (Bengali), Kavali, kalikardori, vakundi (Marathi), Dhuleti, Mardashingi (Gujarati), Podapatri (Telugu), Adigam, Cherukurinja (Tamil), Sannager-asehambu (Kannada), Cakkarakkolli, Madhunashini (Malayalam), Sugar destroyer, Periploca of the woods (English).
Chemical composition
The major bioactive constituents of Gymnema sylvestris are a group of oleanane type triterpenoid saponins known as gymnemic acids. The latter contain several acylated (tigloyl, methylbutyroyl etc.,) derivatives of deacylgymnemic acid (DAGA) which is 3-O-glucuronide of gymnemagenin (3, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28-hexahydroxy-olean-12-ene)2. The individual gymnemic acids (saponins) include gymnemic acids I-VII, gymnemosides A-F, gymnemasaponins.
Use as herbal medicine
While it is still being studied, and the effects of the herb are not entirely known, the herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when used for an extended period of time. Additionally, Gymnema reduces the taste of sugar when it is placed in the mouth, thus some use it to fight sugar cravings. From extract of the leaves were isolated glycosides known as Gymnemic acids, which exhibit anti-sweet activity.
This effect lasts up to about 2 hours. Some postulate that the herb actually reduces cravings for sugar by blocking sugar receptors in the tongue. This effect was observed in rats in a 2003 study conducted by CH Lemon, et al. It is currently being used in an all natural medication for diabetes with other ingredients such as cinnamon, chromium, zinc, biotin, banaba plant, huckleberry and bitter melon.
Medicinal value of Gymnema Sylvestre
Gymnema Sylvestre is an herb used in ayurvedic treatment for various diseases for last 2000 years. Its hindi name is ?Gurmar? which means ?sugar destroyer?. It is seen that, chewing few leafs of the plant suppresses the taste of sugar. Thus, the plant is extensively used for the neuropathic treatment of diabetes. This article discusses the various medicinal properties and uses of the plant in ayurvedic treatment.
Medicinal Properties
The plant is rich in its chemical constituent and contains gymnemic acid, hentriacontane, pentatriacontane, phytin, resins, tartaric acid, formic acid, butyric acid, anthraqui-none derivatives, inositol, d -quercitol, α and β-chlorophylls alkaloids, flavonol, glycosides, kaempferol, gymnemosides A-F, gymnemasaponins and quercetin. These chemicals provide the plant with alexipharmic, anodyne, antidiabetic, anthelmintic, antipyretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, aperitive, purgative, digestive, antisweetener, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant and stomachic properties. Due to these medicinal properties the medicinal value of the plant is too high.
Medicinal uses
Gymnema sylvestre is one of the most ancient plants used for medicinal purpose. The plant possesses a variety of medicinal properties, which is very effective in the treatment of various diseases. Some of the major benefits of the plant are:
- The extract to the plant helps in suppressing the increase in the glucose level in the body and thus very helpful for diabetic patients.
- It removes bad odour from the milk of the breast.
- It stimulates the circulatory system and enhances the function of the uterus.
- The extract of leaf and flower is very beneficial for eye disorders.
- It maintains the cholesterol level in the bloodstream and thus prevents cardiac problems.
- It is very helpful in the treatment of stomach disorders, constipation, and liver disorders.
- Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and gout can be successfully treated with the help of Gymnema sylvestre.
- The plant is quite effective in the treatment of asthma and leukoderma.
- It is known for the treatment of Madhumeha (Glycosuria).
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