The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Monday 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. (Read: Diabetes increases risk of dying from heart attack by 50 per cent) NBRI and CIMAP scientists studied nearly 500 ancient herbs