Glossary: Ayurvedic & Botanical Terms

Last reviewed: 28 May 2026

Quick Answer: What does this glossary cover?

This glossary defines the Ayurvedic and botanical terms used across the Diabec website, including Ayurveda, Gurmar, Rasayana, charantin, swertiamarin, saponin, glycoside, preclinical, WHO-GMP, traditional use, food supplement, and on-hold claim. Diabec is a UK food supplement made by NIBARTECH LTD; it is not a medicine and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Plain-language definitions of the Ayurvedic and botanical terms used across the Diabec website. Each term links back to the ingredient or compliance topic where it appears in fuller context.

Ayurveda: A traditional system of medicine originating in the Indian subcontinent over 3,000 years ago, recognised by the WHO as a traditional health system. In the UK, EU, US, Australia and Singapore, Ayurvedic terms are used descriptively; no Ayurvedic ingredient on this site is registered as a medicine.
Gurmar: Hindi for “sugar destroyer”. Common name for Gymnema sylvestre, used in Ayurveda for over 2,000 years.
Rasayana: Ayurvedic category for rejuvenative or restorative botanicals, traditionally used for long-term wellbeing.
Karela: Hindi for Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia), a fruit traditionally eaten across India, Okinawa, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
Mamejava: Gujarati for Enicostemma littorale (also Chhota Chirayata), a bitter botanical native to western India used in Bhil and Garasia tribal medicine.
Methi: Hindi for Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), a seed listed in Egyptian medical papyri from around 1500 BCE.
Jamun / Java Plum: Common names for Syzygium cumini, a fruit tree native to the Indian subcontinent.
Nimba: Sanskrit for Neem (Azadirachta indica), a tree native to the Indian subcontinent known as the “village pharmacy”.
Charantin: A bioactive steroidal saponin isolated from Bitter Melon, studied in preclinical glucose-metabolism research.
Swertiamarin: A secoiridoid glycoside isolated from Enicostemma, the main compound studied by researchers at M.S. University of Baroda.
Gymnemic acid: A family of triterpenoid saponins from Gymnema sylvestre, responsible for the temporary sweet-taste-suppression effect of fresh leaves.
4-hydroxyisoleucine: A non-protein amino acid found in Fenugreek seeds, studied for effects on insulin secretion in preclinical models.
Polypeptide-p: An insulin-like protein isolated from Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia), reported in early 20th-century pharmacology literature.
Azadirachtin: A limonoid compound from Neem, widely studied across pharmacology and agriculture.
Saponin: A naturally occurring glycoside with surfactant (soap-like) properties, found in many medicinal plants. Charantin and Gymnemic acid are saponins.
Glycoside: A molecule consisting of a sugar bound to another functional group. Many plant bioactives, including swertiamarin and the saponins, are glycosides.
Botanical: A plant-derived ingredient. The European Food Safety Authority maintains a separate compendium of plants and plant-derived substances used in food supplements.
Preclinical: Laboratory, cell-culture or animal research conducted before human clinical trials. Preclinical findings do not confirm benefit in humans.
GMP / WHO-GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice, a quality-assurance framework for medicines and supplements. WHO-GMP is the World Health Organization version recognised across multiple jurisdictions. Diabec is manufactured in a WHO-GMP certified facility in India.
Traditional use: Under EU/UK regulation, “traditional use” references describe historical patterns of use over generations. They are not authorised health claims and do not imply EFSA, MHRA or FDA approval.
Food supplement: Defined in the UK by the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 (and equivalent SIs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), and in the EU by Regulation 2002/46/EC: a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances intended to supplement the normal diet. Diabec is sold as a food supplement, not a medicine.
On-hold claim: A botanical health claim that is pending evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) under EU Regulation 1924/2006. In the UK these claims are administered separately through the GB Register of Nutrition and Health Claims (DHSC), based on the retained version of Regulation 1924/2006. On-hold claims may currently be used in line with the relevant register but have not been authorised.
Regulators referenced on this site: EFSA, European Food Safety Authority (EU). MHRA, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK). FDA, Food and Drug Administration (US). TGA, Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia). HSA, Health Sciences Authority (Singapore). Health Canada (Canada).

Glossary: Frequently Asked Questions

What does HbA1c mean?

HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) is a laboratory measure of the average level of glucose attached to haemoglobin in red blood cells over the previous 8-12 weeks. Clinicians use it to monitor long-term blood-sugar trends. The World Health Organization classifies HbA1c values, and the test is widely used in UK NHS and US clinical practice.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in the Indian subcontinent more than 3,000 years ago. It uses dietary practices, herbal preparations, lifestyle routines, and bodywork to support balance. In the UK and EU, Ayurvedic herbs are sold as food supplements; they are not licensed medicines.

What is the glycaemic index?

The glycaemic index (GI) ranks carbohydrate-containing foods on a scale of 0 to 100 based on how quickly they raise blood glucose compared with pure glucose. Low-GI foods (55 or below) release glucose more gradually. Combining low-GI foods with fibre and protein helps maintain steadier post-meal glucose.

What is a standardised herbal extract?

A standardised extract is a botanical preparation processed so that one or more active-marker compounds are present at a defined concentration in every batch. Standardisation supports consistency across bottles. Examples in Diabec include gymnemic acid in Gymnema, charantin in Bitter Melon, and 4-hydroxyisoleucine in Fenugreek.

What does WHO-GMP mean?

WHO-GMP refers to Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines published by the World Health Organization for pharmaceutical and supplement manufacturing. A WHO-GMP certified facility follows documented procedures covering raw-material sourcing, sanitation, equipment calibration, batch testing, and recall protocols. Diabec is manufactured in a WHO-GMP facility in India.

What is insulin sensitivity?

Insulin sensitivity is how responsive your body cells are to the hormone insulin. Higher sensitivity means cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream more efficiently. Sleep quality, physical activity, body composition, and dietary patterns all influence insulin sensitivity. Diabec helps maintain healthy blood-sugar metabolism as part of a balanced lifestyle.

What is the difference between a food supplement and a medicine?

In the UK and EU, a food supplement is a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances marketed to supplement a normal diet. A medicine has a Marketing Authorisation from the MHRA or EMA based on clinical evidence of efficacy and safety for a specific medical condition. Diabec is a food supplement, not a medicine.

What is DDP shipping?

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is an international shipping Incoterm where the seller pre-pays all import VAT, customs duties, and handling fees before the parcel reaches the customer. Diabec ships DDP to the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Singapore, so no extra charges arrive at your door.