AIIMS Study on BGR-34 and Diabetes

NEW DELHI: Researchers at AIIMS in New Delhi have found in a new study that Ayurvedic formulation BGR-34 along with allopathic drug glibenclamide may have a significant role in controlling diabetes, although these findings are interim findings.

The findings hold importance given that people with diabetes are two to four times more likely than others to develop cardiovascular disease, deadly comorbidities that could put a person at a high risk of contracting COVID-19.

The polyherbal antidiabetic drug BGR-34 was developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, India (CSIR) and Industrial Research's two Lucknow-based labs – Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) based on herbs like:

• Vijaysar
• Daruharidra
• Manjisth
• Gudmar
• Giloe
• Methika

These herbs are found in the upper region of the Himalayas. BGR-34 is manufactured and marketed worldwide by Aimil Pharmaceuticals (India).

In the interim analysis of the animal experimental study, doctors have found that the pace of diabetes growth can be halted if the allopathic drug is integrated with BGR-34, a herbal formulation enriched with antioxidant properties which does not allow bad cholesterol to accumulate in the heart arteries.

To find the efficacy of BGR-34 with the allopathic drug, the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) doctors gave the ayurveda formulation and allopathic medicine glibenclamide separately to one group and in combination to another group in the study.

It was found that the combination group who were given ayurvedic BGR-34 and glibenclamide had more improvement in insulin levels than those given the allopathic drug alone, according to the interim findings.

It also showed the cholesterol-lowering (cardio protective) effect.

The study also established that BGR-34 improved lipid profile in terms of triglycerides and levels of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), thus showing that it can be safely taken with synthetic antidiabetic drugs.

Based on herbs like vijaysar, daruharidra, manjisth, gudmar, giloe, and methika found in the upper region of the Himalayas, BGR-34 has been prepared after intensive research by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's two Lucknow-based labs - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI).

Recently, a team of scientists from Tehran University had in their separate study concluded that herbal drugs having antioxidant properties can reduce the risk of COVID-19 in diabetic patients.