Sep–Dec 2023 • Vol LXII • No. 5 3 Syzygium cuminii Syzygium cuminii is an evergreen and densely foliaceous tree found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The tree has whitish, close-grained wood; leathery, oblong–ovate leaves; scented, greenish white flowers; and oblong, dark purple, edible berries having a single seed. S cuminii is rich in jambosine, jambolin, and anthocyanins, and it exhibits antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antihyperlipidemic properties.1,2 A study evaluated the antidiabetic property of S cuminii fruits and seeds. Ethyl acetate, ethanol, and n-hexane extracts of white S cuminii fruits and seeds were prepared using aqueous ethanol (50% v/v). The antidiabetic activity was assessed using α-glucoside and α-amylase enzyme inhibition activity assays. Upon analyses, the ethanol extract of S cuminii fruit showed the highest α-amylase enzyme inhibition, and the ethyl acetate extract of S cuminii seed showed the highest α-glucoside enzyme inhibition. Thus, this Health From Herbs Gymnema sylvestre Gymnema sylvestre is a perennial woody shrub that grows in northern and western India, tropical Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Japan. The plant has a twining and branched stem; elliptic, glabrous leaves that are slightly bitter; and small, yellow flowers in axillary cymes. G sylvestre is rich in gymnemic acids, gymnemagenin and gurmarin, and it possesses antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties.1 A study evaluated the potency of G sylvestre in insulin regulation and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic male albino Wistar rats. Group 1 (nondiabetic control) and group 2 (diabetic control) rats were fed the chow maintenance diet; groups 3 and 4 were diabetic rats and were fed the chow maintenance diet along with 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of G sylvestre leaf powder, respectively, for 21 days. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological analyses, respectively. G sylvestre treatment was found to improve the liver function enzyme levels in a dose-dependent manner. It also significantly reduces blood glucose levels with an increase in plasma insulin, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia. Thus, the study confirmed the antidiabetic and antihypercholesterolemic properties of G sylvestre leaves.2 Another study evaluated the ability of G sylvestre to restore liver and kidney functions in high-sucrose diet–induced and dexamethasone-induced type 2 diabetic male albino Wistar rats. The 4 treatment groups received the aqueous extract (100 mg/kg), methanol extract (7.5 mg/kg), methylene chloride fraction (7.5 mg/kg), and methanol fraction (7.5 mg/kg) of G sylvestre whole plant, for 14 days. Analytical results revealed a significant improvement in the renal and hepatic transaminase levels and in the histopathology of the rats after treatment with the extracts. Thus, the study confirmed the restorative ability of G sylvestre in diabetic rats.3 References 1. Syedy M, Nama KS. Int J Pure App Biosci. 2014;2(6):318–325. 2. Muzaffar H, et al. Metabolites. 2023;13(4):516. 3. Tchouanka BT, et al. GSC Biol Pharm Sci. 2022;20(1):314–325. study confirmed the antidiabetic property of S cuminii fruits and seeds.3 Another study evaluated the antihyperglycemic property of S cuminii seed extract on alloxaninduced hyperglycemic male albino rats. Group 1 comprised nondiabetic, untreated rats (control). Group 2 rats were treated with 50% methanolic extract of S cuminii seeds, and group 3 rats were treated with glimepiride, for 15 days. Fasting blood glucose was evaluated on day 0 and on alternate days of the study. A significant decrease in the blood glucose levels was observed in the rats treated with 50% methanolic extract of S cuminii seeds, compared with the control group. Thus, the study confirmed the antihyperglycemic property of S cuminii seeds.2 References 1. Ayyanar M, Babu PS. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(3):240–246. 2. Yadav D, et al. Search Res. 2013;4(3):13–16. 3. Ishartati E, et al. Adv Biol Sci Res. 2021;14:256–260. G sylvestre is the only ingredient of Himalaya Meshashringi. S cuminii is an ingredient of Diabecon® and Diabecon® DS. Sanskrit name Meshashringi English name Gymnema Sanskrit name Jambu English name Black Plum
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