Possible mechanism of antihyperglycemic effect of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract, part I.

1. Effect of water soluble fraction of alcoholic extract of G. sylvestre leaves on glycogen content by isolated rat hemidiaphragm was studied in normal and glucose fed hyperglycemic rats. 2. The leaf extract by itself failed to alter the hepatic glycogen content in normal rats. 3. In glucose fed rats, the leaf extract lowered the glycogen content of the tissue significantly (P<0.05) and this was further lowered when both exogenous insulin and leaf extract was administered. 4. The results are discussed.