Читать книгу Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Supplement Use in People with Diabetes: A Clinician's Guide - Laura Shane-McWhorter - Страница 20

The constituents include a variety of chemicals, including saponins, stigmasterol, quercitol, the gymnemosides, and the amino acid derivatives betaine, choline, and trimethylamine.⁷⁰ Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, varying effects from animal and in vitro cell research have shed light on how it may work. Gymnema appears to increase enzyme activity responsible for glucose uptake and use.⁷¹ Gymnema may also stimulate pancreatic β-cell function, increase numbers of pancreatic β-cells, and possibly increase insulin release by increasing cell permeability to insulin.^68,69,72 For Gymnema to produce its pharmacological effects, some residual pancreatic function may be required, since in pancreatectomized animals it does not produce a hypoglycemic effect.⁷³ Work is continuing to elucidate more specific information on its pharmacological activity.