Santal markets traditional Indian herbal
marketing along the lines of the Ayurvedic tradition, and as
supporting blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Santal Solutions is introducing OmSan, containing OSA, which the company calls its proprietary processed virgin isolate aqueous extract of the Gymnema sylvestre leaf.
The plant is said to have been used as a traditional medicine in India.
The angle of folk medicine passed down from generation to generation is one that supplement marketers have long used to gain the trust of consumers.
According to Santal Solutions, several tribes - and namely, the Santals from east-central India - have used Gymnema sylvestre leaves for centuries in their diets and as a folk remedy.
However, ingesting the leaves is not favorable because their properties interfere with a person's ability to taste sweetness.
As such, the potential benefits of the herbal may be better delivered in supplement form.
The ingredient name OSA stands for Om Santal Adivasi , which the company says it chose as a tribute to the Santal tribe.
However, despite conjuring up images of traditional medicine, Santal Solutions says it can back up its product with research.
The company claims research at King's College London demonstrated OmSanA helps individuals reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
The research was not published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The tradition of Ayurvedic medicine originated in India and is still used throughout that region and neighboring countries.
Representing the 'knowledge of life', the system looks into all aspects of life, including the physical, mental, social and spiritual influences in a patient's life.
Santal says it follows Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and stringent quality controls.
