Gymnema sylvestre for diabetics

• Published in: Journal of herbs, spices & medicinal plants Vol. 14; no. 1-2; pp. 88 - 106
• Main Authors: Singh, Vinay Kumar, Umar, Shahid, Ansari, Shamim Akhtar, Iqbal, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Binghamton, NY Taylor & Francis Group 17.09.2008; Haworth Press
• Subjects: Anti-sweet; Biological and medical sciences; chemical constituents of plants; crop production; diabetes; diet therapy; disease prevention; endangered species; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General pharmacology; geographical distribution; germplasm conservation; gurmar; Gymnema sylvestre; gymnemic acid; India; literature reviews; Medical sciences; medicinal plant; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; micropropagation; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant anatomy; plant extracts; plant morphology; plant taxonomy; toxicity; traditional medicine; India; Asia; China; Africa; Australia; South Asia; Oceania; Endocrinopathy; Gymnemic acid; Phytogeography; Pharmacological activity; Diabetes mellitus; Tropical zone; Asclepiadaceae; traditional medicine; Biogeography; Plant leaf; Tropical forest; Medicinal plant; gurmar; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Ayurvedic medicine; Botany; Spermatophyta; Autochthonous; diabetes; Community; Anti-sweet
• ISSN: 1049-6475; 1540-3580
• DOI: 10.1080/10496470802341508

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br., a medicinal plant that is indigenous to India, grows wild in the tropical forests of central, western and southern parts of India and in the tropical areas of Africa, Australia, and China. The plant is listed in the Indian pharmaceutical codex and is popular in Indian systems of traditional medicine, such as Sidha, Unani, and Ayurveda, where the plant leaves are used to treat type II (adult-onset) diabetes (Madhumeha). Due to a lack of successful agrotechniques, however, the plant has become vulnerable and therefore, the different varieties and populations growing in various phytogeographical regions merit attention of the research community. This article elucidates the botany, biochemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal uses of the plant and suggests a strategy for conservation of the species while emphasizing the need for further research.