US EPA

1035720 

Journal Article 

In vitro callus and in vivo leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre stimulate β-cells regeneration and anti-diabetic activity in Wistar rats 

Ahmed, AB; Rao, AS; Rao, MV 

2010 

1 

Phytomedicine
ISSN: 0944-7113
EISSN: 1618-095X 

17 

13 

1033-1039 

English 

20537514 

10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.019 

A methanol extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaf and callus showed anti-diabetic activities through regenerating β-cells. Optimum callus was developed under stress conditions of blue light with 2,4-D (1.5 mg/l) and KN (0.5 mg/l), which induced maximum biomass of green compact callus at 45 days, as determined by growth curve analysis. Leaf and optimum callus extracts contains gymnemic acid, which was analyzed using TLC, HPTLC and HPLC methods. The research reported here deals with leaf and callus extracts of G. sylvestre, which significantly increase the weight of the whole body, liver, pancreas and liver glycogen content in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (Wistar rats). The gymnemic acid of leaf and callus extracts significantly increases the regeneration of β-cells in treated rats, when compared with the standard diabetic rats. It could have potential as a pharmaceutical drug for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). 

Gymnema sylvestre; Gymnemic acid; Growth curve; Organ weight; Liver glycogen; beta-Cell regeneration