Botanical Name :

Gymnema sylvestre B. Br.

Family :

Asclepiadaceae

Identification No.- SDACH/HG/195

Introduction :

Latin name: Gymnema = gymnos = naked; sylvestree = sylva wood land.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Australian Cow Plant, periploca of the woods

Hindi : Gudmar

Malayalam : Chakkarakkoli

Sanskrit : meshasrngi

Tamil : sakkarakkoli

Telgu : podapatra

Synonyms :

मेषशृङ्गी विषाणी स्यान्मेषवल्ल्यजशृङ्गिका”

Meshashringi, madunashini , Meshavishaanikaa, Meshavalli, Chhaagalshrngi. Ajashringi

Morphology :

A herb bearing multiple branches and growing widely.

Leaves – 3 to 7 cms. long, oval, flowers – yellowish, in clusters.

Fruits – 4 to 6 cm. long, hard, arrow shaped.

One out of two legumes does not grow. Seeds – long, oval, flat, winged.

flowering occurs in autumn , fruiting in winter.

The tongue becomes insensitive to sweet and bitter tastes for 1 to 2 hours after chewing the leaves of meshashringi.

Distribution & Habitat :

Throughout India

Chemical constituents :

 Gymnemic acids

 Properties :

Guna : laghu, ruksha;

 Rasa: kashaya:

Virya: ushna;

Vipaka: katu

Karma :

Chakusya, dipana, sramsanam, rechani

carminative, digestive, astingent,cooling, diuretic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, emetic, expectorant, astringent, stomachic., antipyretic, anti-inflammatory

Srotogamitva :

Dosha: Kaphaghna. vataghna.

Dhatu: Rakta (lowering blood sugar, liver stimulant). rasa (useful in amenorrhoea).

Mala: Mutra (lowers sugar, diabetes, calculus).

Indication :

Hridroga, kasa, swasa, meha, kusta

Diabetes, dysentery, gout, burning sensation, dyspepsia, cephalgia, worm infection

Part used :

Whole plant

Dosage :

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses

External uses :

External use: Application of leaves mixed with castor oil is useful in glandular swelling, hepatitis and splenic entargement. Roots are used for application in snake bite.

Internal uses :

Its main action is seen on the digestive system as appetizer, astringent and a hepatic stimulant, it helps to maintain the blood sugar to 0.12% by acting on pancreas, adrenal glands and the digestive glands. Hepatic stimulation leads indirectly to secretion of insulin from pancreas. This reduces the blood sugar and also the urinary sugar. These actions are obtained by using the leaves only and not by using extracts. Root has emetic properties similar to ipecac. It is useful in cardiac failure.

administration of seeds or roots in the form of smoking are used to relieve common cold and breathlessness. It is very useful in diabetes and calculi. A dose of 1-2 gms. of leaf powder with honey or cows milk is given twice a day. It is useful in amenorrhoea, typhoid fever, general debility.

IUCN : Not Evaluated

Research updates
1. A randomized clinical trial demonstrated significant reduction in fasting and postprandial blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients after supplementation with Gurmar extract for 12 weeks.

2. A study showed that gymnemic acids inhibit glucose absorption in the intestine and promote beta-cell regeneration in diabetic rats.

3. Gurmar leaf extract exhibited anti-obesity effects by modulating lipid metabolism and reducing leptin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.