GYMNEMA Gymnema sylvestre
Asclepiadaceae
San: Mesasrngi, Madhunasini; Hin: Gudmar, Merasimgi; Ben: Merasingi;
Mal: Chakkarakolli, Madhunasini; Tam: Sirukurumkay, Sakkaraikkolli;
Kan: Kadhasige; Tel: Podapatra; Mar: Kavali
Importance
Gymnema, Australian Cowplant, Small Indian Ipecacuanha or Periploca of the
woods is a woody climber. It is reported to cure cough, dyspnoea, ulcers, pitta, kapha and
pain in the eyes. The plant is useful in inflammations, hepatosplenomegaly, dyspepsia,
constipation, jaundice, haemorrhoids, strangury, renal and vesical calculi, helminthiasis,
cardiopathy, cough, asthma, bronchitis, intermittent fever, amenorrhoea, conjuctivitis and
leucoderma. The fresh leaves when chewed have the remarkable property of paralysing the
sense of taste for sweet and bitter substance for some time (Warrier et al, 1995). The drug is
described as a destroyer of madhumeha (glycosuria) and other urinary disorders. Root has
long been reputed as a remedy for snakebite. Leaves triturated and mixed with castor oil are
applied to swollen glands and enlargement of internal viscera as the liver and spleen
(Nadkarni, 1954). The drug is used to strengthen the function of heart, cure jaundice, piles,
urinary calculi, difficult micturition and intermittent fevers (Sharma,1983). The drug enters
into the composition of preparations like Ayaskrti, Varunadi kasaya, Varunadighrtam,
Mahakalyanakaghrtam, etc. They suppress the activity of taste of tongue for sweet taste and
for this reason it was considered that it destroys sugar, hence the name Madhunashini or
Gurmar and has been prescribed as an anti-diabetic. The crude drug as well as its dried
aqueous extract is mainly used in bronchial troubles.
Distribution
It is a tropical climber. It mainly grows in Western Ghats, Konkan, Tamil Nadu and
some parts of Bihar. The plant is cultivated in plains of India but the drug is mainly important
from Afghanistan and Iran.
Botany
Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.)R. Br. syn. Asclepias germinata Roxb. belonging to the
family Asclepiadaceae is a large, woody much branched climber with pubescent young parts.
Leaves are simple, opposite, elliptic or ovate, more or less pubescent on both sides, base
rounded or cordate. Flowers are small, yellow and arranged in umbellate cymes. Fruits are
slender and follicles are upto 7.5cm long (Warrier et al, 1995).
Two allied species, G. hirsutum found in Bundelkh and Bihar and Western Ghats and
G. montanum growing wild in Eastern Ghats and Konkan are also used for the same purpose
and are also called “Gurmar” (Thakur et al, 1989).
Agrotechnology
The plant can be propagated both by seeds and stem cuttings. Seedlings are to be
raised in polybags. Pits of size 50cm cube are to be taken, filled with 10kg dried cowdung or
FYM and covered with topsoil. On these pits about 3-4 months old seedlings are to be
transplanted from polybags. Trailing can be facilitated by erecting poles and tying the plants
to the poles. The plant will attain good spread within one year. Regular weeding, irrigation
and organic manure application are beneficial. The plant is not attacked by any serious pests
or diseases. Leaves can be collected from the first year onwards at an internal of one week.
This can be continued for 10-12 years. Fresh or dried leaves can be marketed (Prasad et al,
1997).
Properties and Activity
Nonacosane and hentriacontane were isolated from the hexane extract of leaves. An
attempt to isolate nitrogenous compounds led to the isolation of amino acids such as leucine,
iso-leucine, valine, allanine and γ- amynobutyric acid. Isolation of trimethyl amine oxide was
of particular interest. An alkaloid gynamine which is a trace constituent was isolated and
identified (Sinsheimer et al, 1967). Antisweet constituent of the leaves has been found to be a