Patients suffering from diabetes Type II can now look forward to a scientifically-validated anti-diabetes herbal drug “BGR-34” having no side effects for their treatment. The drug will cost Rs 5 per tablet.
Developed by two labs of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in lucknow and launched by Vice-President Hamid Ansari last year, the technology has been transferred to a Delhi-based private firm, AIMIl Pharmaceuticals. It commercially launched the drug on Saturday in Delhi and Northern India.
A combination of natural extracts from plants, the drug is based on Ayurveda and has no side effects, said the CSIR scientists from two lucknow-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) which have developed the pills.
AKS Rawat, NBRI senior Principal scientist told reporters on Saturday that they had in depth study of over 100 herbs and identified the six best among them to be combined scientifically to develop this anti-diabetic formulation.
It was found that 67 per cent patients on whom the drug was tried showed normal blood sugar levels within 3-4 days of drug usage.
Rawat said that unlike antigens which affect body organs on the long run, this drug contains anti-oxidants, which help in rebuilding process. The drug to be taken as an add-on or adjuvant to existing diabetes treatment also helped improving the immune system.
AK Sharma, Vice President of the AIMIl said that the herbal drugs is made from commonly available plant extracts like Methi and gurmar leaves which make it commercially viable. Gurmar, scientifically known as Gymnema sylvestre, is known to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin.
KK Sharma, MD of the firm said that “diabetes, a life style disease affect close to 382 million people around the world with over 65 million cases in India. While allopathic drugs in a long run have side affect, our pill ensures that the patient leads a quality life.”