Scientific Name : Gymnema sylvestre
Family : Asclepiadaceae
Common Name : Gurmar
Part Used : leaves
Habit and Distribution : It is native to the tropical forests of southern and central India.
Chemical constituents : The major bioactive constituents of Gymnema sylvestris are a group of oleanane type triterpenoid saponins known as gymnemic acids. The latter contain several acylated (tigloyl, methylbutyroyl etc.,) derivatives of deacylgymnemic acid (DAGA) which is 3-O-glucuronide of gymnemagenin (3, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28-hexahydroxy-olean-12-ene)2. The individual gymnemic acids (saponins) include gymnemic acids I-VII, gymnemosides A-F, gymnemasaponins.
Uses : Gymnema is traditionally used in formulas to control blood sugar levels in the body. The leaves, used in herbal medicine, which chewed, interfere with the ability to taste sweetness, which explains the Hindi name Gurmar,, the destroyer of sugar".
