Kodiyatar A, Mishra A, Dhakad MS, Roy V, Beg MMA, Rai N. Antidiabetic effects of Gymnema sylvestre and metformin co-therapy in a type 2 diabetic rat model. World J Exp Med 2026; 16(1): 116252 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116252]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Niket Rai, MD, Head, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, L N Medical College, Sarvadharam C-Sector, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462042, Madhya Pradesh, India. rainiket26@gmail.com
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Mar 20, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 20, 2026
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World Journal of Experimental Medicine
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Kodiyatar A, Mishra A, Dhakad MS, Roy V, Beg MMA, Rai N. Antidiabetic effects of Gymnema sylvestre and metformin co-therapy in a type 2 diabetic rat model. World J Exp Med 2026; 16(1): 116252 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116252]
World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2026; 16(1): 116252 Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116252
Antidiabetic effects of Gymnema sylvestre and metformin co-therapy in a type 2 diabetic rat model
Ajay Kodiyatar, Akhilesh Mishra, Megh Singh Dhakad, Vandana Roy, Mirza Masroor Ali Beg, Niket Rai
Ajay Kodiyatar, Vandana Roy, Niket Rai, Department of Pharmacology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India
Akhilesh Mishra, Central Animal Facility, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India
Megh Singh Dhakad, Department of Microbiology, State level Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India
Mirza Masroor Ali Beg, Faculty of Medicine, Alatoo International University, Bishkek 720048, Kyrgyzstan
Niket Rai, Department of Pharmacology, L N Medical College, Bhopal 462042, Madhya Pradesh, India
Author contributions: Kodiyatar A supported the study methodology, benchtop procedures and manuscript preparation; Mishra A was responsible for the conceptualization, hypothesis of the study, data collection, analysis, and manuscript drafting; Dhakad MS and Beg MMA assisted with the statistical analysis and data interpretation; Roy V provided supervision and contributed to the revision of the manuscript; Rai N supervised the overall research direction and provided oversight throughout the study.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: This study was conducted at the Central Animal Facility and Department of Pharmacology, Maulana Azad Medical College (New Delhi). This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals (Approval No. IAEC/MAMC/CAF/2023/03).
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: The authors confirm that all data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. Additional datasets supporting the conclusions of this article are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Niket Rai, MD, Head, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, L N Medical College, Sarvadharam C-Sector, Kolar Road, Bhopal 462042, Madhya Pradesh, India. rainiket26@gmail.com
Received: November 10, 2025 Revised: January 6, 2026 Accepted: February 14, 2026 Published online: March 20, 2026 Processing time: 129 Days and 14.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Metformin is the standard therapy, however plant-based adjuncts such as Gymnema sylvestre (GS) are gaining interest for their anti-diabetic potential.
AIM
To evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of GS, alone and with metformin, on glycemic control, lipid profile, renal function, and body weight in high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM rats.
METHODS
Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats (150 ± 20 g) were divided into five groups: Normal control, diabetic control (DC), metformin-treated, GS-treated, and combination-treated (metformin + GS). T2DM was induced by 21 days of high-fat diet followed by two STZ injections (25 mg/kg, five days apart). Rats with fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥ 270 mg/dL were treated for 28 days. Biochemical parameters (FBG, glycated hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and cholesterol) and body weight were assessed.
RESULTS
By day 28, all treatment groups showed significant improvements compared to DC. Metformin produced the greatest reductions in FBG, cholesterol, creatinine, and glycated hemoglobin. GS monotherapy had modest but significant effects, while metformin + GS improved glycemic control and lipid profile more effectively than GS alone. Metformin remained superior in renal protection. All treated groups showed significantly higher body weights than DC, indicating protection against STZ-induced weight loss.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that metformin and GS, individually and in combination, improved glycemic control and metabolic outcomes in T2DM rats. While metformin showed the greater efficacy, combination therapy provided additive benefits, supporting GS as a potential adjunct in T2DM management.
Core Tip: This study evaluates the antidiabetic effects of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) alone and in combination with metformin in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rat model. The combination therapy improved glycemic control, lipid profile, renal parameters, and body weight compared with GS alone, although metformin remained superior. These findings support the potential role of GS as an adjunct to standard metformin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
