CSIR launches ayurvedic anti-diabetic drug BGR-34

Bengaluru : The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched its ayurvedic anti-diabetic drug BGR-34.

Aimed at managing type 2 diabetes, BGR-34 has been jointly developed by National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), both located in Lucknow.

"The modern diabetes drugs are known for side-effects and toxicity while BGR-34 works by controlling blood sugar and limiting the harmful effects of other drugs," said NBRIs' Senior Principal Scientist A.K.S. Rawat.

NBRI and CIMAP scientists studied nearly 500 ancient herbs listed in ayurvedic texts to zero in on daruharidra (Berberis aristata), giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), vijaysar (Pterocarpus marsupium), gudmar (Gymnema sylvestre), majeeth (Rubia cordifoila) and methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum) to make the anti-diabetic formulation.

Ayurvedic pharma compnay AIMIL Pharmaceuticals will commercially produce and distribute BGR- 34, which has been priced at Rs 5 and will be available widely across Karnataka and neighbouring states.

"BGR-34 is a unique product that manages the lives of human suffering diabetics. The product passed several battery of tests and showed hypoglycaemic activity in experimental subjects," said AIMIL Pharmaceuticals vice president Anil Kumar Sharma.