The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a premier research institute of the Union Science and Technology Ministry, will soon conduct a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of BGR-34, the country's first scientifically validated anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug in treating the life-style disease.
The drug is in the market since October last for the patients afflicted with Type-2 diabetes mellitus, a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterised by high blood sugar, insulin resistance and relative lack of insulin. The BGR-34 has raked in sales turnover of over `100 crore since its launch and we are getting positive feedback. However, there is a great need to find its efficacy and safety and as well to see if it needs further improvement, said CSIR DG Girish Sahini.
He said that the Government has already allocated `30 lakhs to conduct the clinical trial on the diabetes patients coming in the hospital affiliated with the BHU. The test will be conducted with the help of a private agency.
The drug which has been jointly developed by the lucknow based Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), both premier research institutions of CSIR is being marketed by Delhi-based AIMIl Pharmaceuticals.
Available at `5 per tablet, the BGR-34 that stands for Blood Glucose Regulator with 34 identified active phyto-constitutents from herbal resources is said to have ingredients from six herbs described in Ayurveda which makes it safe to the diabetic patients whose number is estimated to be six crore in the country. The number is on increase in view of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle making India a 'Diabetes capital' of the world.
According to Dr AKS Rawat, Principal Scientist from the NBRI, the drug not only aims to help relief from diabetes but also enhances immune system, performs as anti-oxidant and checks free radicals.
Stressful lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity are to be mainly blamed for diabetes. According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), one in 11 adults has diabetes.
Globally 350 million people are suffering from diabetes. In India there are about 77.2 million people in India suffering from pre-diabetes and over 65.1 million diabetes patients as per the ICMR. By 2030, India is estimated to be the diabetes capital of the world.