Name-Gymnema sylvestre

Family-Asclepiadaceae

Vernacular Names-

It is a woody climber found in Central and Peninsular India. It is also found in Northern and Western part of India. The woody Gymnema plant also grows in parts of Africa.

Before 2,000 years ago Indian physicians first used Gymnema to treat diabetes. The leaves were also used for stomach ailments, constipation, water retention and liver disease. In the 1920s, preliminary scientific studies found some evidence that Gymnema leaves can reduce blood sugar levels.

In experimental and clinical trials, Gymnema sylvestre has been successful in controlling the blood sugar level without reducing it to below the normal blood sugar levels, an effect sometimes seen with the use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic sulphonylurea compounds. Due to it's non-toxic nature and sweetness-suppression activity, Gymnema sylvestre can play a role in treating conditions caused by excessive sugar intakes. The leaves, when chewed, interfere with the ability to taste sweetness, which explains the Hindi name gurmar:"destroyer of sugar."

Plant Facts: G. sylvestre is a large woody climber. It is occasionally cultivated as medicinal plant. Leaves are Leaf simple, opposite, elliptical or ovate, petiolate, petiole 6 to 12 mm long. Flowers are small, yellow, in umbellate cymes.

Gymnema Flowering twig		Gymnema twig with fruits

PARTS USED: Dried leaf DOSE - 3-6 g. Dry leaf powder

Plant constituents include two resins (one soluble in alcohol), gymnemic acids, tartaric acid, gurmarin, calcium oxalate, glucose, saponins, quercitol, and the amino acid derivatives betaine, choline and trimethylamine. The leaves also contain Phytin, a & ß Chlorophyll, Pentriacontane, hentriacontane. Lupeol, ß-amyrin, stigmasterol also present in the leaves. Triterpenoid saponins of gymnemic acid A, B, C and D with sugar residues such as glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, ferulic and angelic acids attached as carboxylic acids. Several isopropylene derivatives of Gymnemagenin, a hexahydroterpene, gymnemic acid are also present. Hydrocarbons such as nonacosane, tritriacontane, resin, formic acid, butyric acid, amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, alanine, ?-butyric acid are also present.

MARKER COMPOUND- Gymnemic Acid

		R R1 R2 Gymnemic acid I Tigloyl Acetyl Gluconic Gymnemic acid II Methyl butyryl Acetyl Gluconic Gymnemic acid III Methyl butyryl H Gluconic Gymnemic acid IV Tigloyl H Gluconic
General structure of Gymnemic Acid