• doi: 10.3164/jcbn.2007010
• Published online 2007 Aug 29

Parijat Kanetkar, Rekha Singhal,^* and Madhusudan Kamat

Abstract

Gymnema sylvestre is regarded as one of the plants with potent anti diabetic properties. This plant is also used for controlling obesity in the form of Gymnema tea. The active compound of the plant is a group of acids termed as gymnemic acids. It has been observed that there could be a possible link between obesity, Gymnemic acids and diabetes. This review will try to put forth an overall idea about the plant as well as present a molecular perspective linking the common medicine to the most common metabolic disorders.

Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre, antidiabetic, obesity, Gymnemic acids, herbal drug

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Introduction

Gymnema sylvestre (G. sylvestre) R. Br.

The plant is native to central and western India, tropical Africa and Australia.

Other names [1], Sanskrit: Meshashringi, madhunashini, Hindi: Gur-mar, merasingi, Marathi: Kavali, kalikardori, vakundi, Gujrathi: Dhuleti, mardashingi, Telugu: Podapatri, Tamil: Adigam, cherukurinja, Kannada: Sannagerasehambu

Plant description

G. sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae), a vulnerable species is a slow growing, perennial, medicinal woody climber found in central and peninsular India. Fig. 1 shows a 5-year old parent plant. It is a potent antidiabetic plant and used in folk, ayurvedic and homeopathic systems of medicine. It is also used in the treatment of asthma, eye complaints, inflammations, family planning and snakebite. In addition, it possesses antimicrobial, antihypercholesterolemic, hepatoprotective and sweet suppressing activities. It also acts as feeding deterrents to caterpillar, Prodenia eridania; prevent dental caries caused by Streptococcus mutans and in skin cosmetics 

Reference:

Gymnema – LIFE FORCE HEALTH CENTER

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2170951/