Gymnema: Pharmacological and Clinical Studies
Studies conducted earlier in this century revealed that Gymnema Sylvestre leaves, when chewed, deaden the sense of taste of sweets and of the bitterness of bitter substances such as quinine. This effect lasts for one to hours; it does not affect pungent, saline, astringent or acidic tastes.
Studies conducted in India sa early as 1930 showed that the leaves cause hypoglycemia in experimental animals which sets in soon after oral or intravenous administration. This state of hypoglycemia was explained on the assumption that the drug indirectly stimulates the insulin secretion of the pancreas, as it has no direct action on the carbohydrate metabolism.