Taste-Masked Chewable Herbal Tablets for Glycemic Control: A Synergistic Approach Using Polyherbal Extracts
Type II Diabetes mellitus is a long-term metabolic disorder characterized by insufficient or ineffective insulin production, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Herbal medicines are increasingly preferred for managing Type II Diabetes due to fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs. This study aimed to formulate taste-masked chewable tablets using extracts from Aegle marmelos, Allium sativum, and Gymnema sylvestre. These herbs act via different mechanisms and may offer synergistic antidiabetic activity. Plant extracts were prepared using appropriate solvents and optimized based on in vivo animal studies assessing oral glucose tolerance, blood glucose levels, and lipid profiles. The optimal extract combination—Aegle marmelos (100 mg/kg), Allium sativum (50 mg/kg), and Gymnema sylvestre (50 mg/kg) in a 2:1:1 ratio—demonstrated the most significant antidiabetic effect and was selected for formulation. Due to the bitter taste of these extracts, Eudragit EPO was employed as a taste-masking polymer. The formulated chewable tablets were characterized for their pharmacological, biochemical, and sensory properties.