Stress on herbal drugs to treat diabetes

New Delhi: As the World Diabetes Day, which is observed on November 14, brings focus on major long-term implications of the chronic illness on individuals and health-care system, India presents a gloomy picture with over 100 million people all set to become victim of the silent killer by 2030.

However, the acknowledgement of the benefits of ancient medicine by the people has come as a major relief for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The government is also promoting alternate medicinal systems in a big way across the country.

Its' the result of the government's initiative that several organizations have come forward and developed herbal drugs to treat life-style based diseases. Two labs of CSIR -- National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIAMP) have jointly developed anti-diabetic herbal drug BGR-34 which is found to have effectively manage blood glucose homeostasis in Type 2 diabetes cases.

"The drug is formulation of many medicinal plants like giloy, sadabhar, methi, bittergourd and daruheda which are known as diabetes prevention herbs to lower blood sugar levels. Various studies have shown that extract of these plants may help regulate blood sugar and keep cholesterol in check," said AKS Rawat, former scientist from the NBRI.

A study published in an international journal 'Traditional and Complementary Medicine' too has found that BGR-34 has been found to be effective in cutting down heart attacks by 50 per cent in diabetic patients.