Gymnema sylvestre is a plant used in Ayurveda, an ages-old form of holistic medicine practiced in India. The plant is a perennial vine found in tropical regions of India, as well as Africa and Australia. The plant is also known as Australian cowplant and periploca of the woods.
The Hindi term for G. sylvestre is gurmar, which is translated as "sugar destroyer." This is because gymnema leaves contain a compound called gymnemic acid that suppresses the taste of sugar. The suppression of sugar taste is thought to be useful in treating diabetes.
Gymnema sylvestre is also thought to block sugar and fat absorption in the body, the effect of which may be useful in treating obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Gymnema sylvestre
| Gymnema sylvestre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gymnema sylvestre, at Eastern Ghats, India | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Gymnema |
| Species: | G. sylvestre |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. | |
Gymnema sylvestre[1] is a perennial woody vine native to Asia (including the Arabian Peninsula), Africa and Australia. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine. Common names include gymnema,[2] Australian cowplant, and Periploca of the woods, and the Hindi term gurmar, which means "sugar destroyer".[3][4][5]
The leaves and extracts contain gymnemic acids, the major bioactive constituents that interact with taste receptors on the tongue to temporarily suppress the taste of sweetness.[6][7][8][9][10]
Description[edit]
The plant is a climber with leaves having soft hairs on the upper surface. The leaves are elongated-oval in shape. It has a small, yellow, umbelliferous inflorescence that is produced throughout the year.[11]
Properties[edit]
Gymnema sylvestre has a long history of use in herbal medicine and a broad range of therapeutic properties.[4][5][12]
Blocks sweet taste sensations[edit]
Its leaves contain triterpenoid saponins,[13][14][15] flavonols,[16] and gurmarin.[5] The major biologically active plant molecules are gymnemic acids, a class of triterpenoid saponins, which have the effect of suppressing the taste of sweetness on the tongue from sucrose (sugar), stevia, xylitol, and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.[17]
The sweet-blocking effect of G. sylvestre lasts from 15[6] to 50 minutes[18] and may even persist for several hours.[19] Gymnemic acids apparently have no long-term effects on taste and they do not influence bitter, salty, or sour taste perception.[7][20]
Effects on sugar absorption and insulin secretion[edit]
Gymnemic acid compounds in Gymnema sylvestre can also attach to receptors on the intestinal walls, helping to reduce absorption of sugar molecules in the gut.[21] This process can lower blood sugar and promote insulin secretion and release.[21] However, its antidiabetic properties were not confirmed in rats.[22]
Uses[edit]
- Reduction of sugar intake: G. sylvestre extracts taken in the form of lozenges, mouthwash, or tea diminishes the consumption of sweet foods and overall caloric intake. Extracts (formulated as a mint lozenge) reduced the desire for high-sugar foods and the pleasant taste of candy.[23] Research also suggests that Gymnema sylvestre extracts reduce cravings for sugar. In a double-blind study, participants who received a gymnemic acid lozenge declined candy (before tasting it) more often than the placebo group.[10][24][25]
- Weight loss: In Japan, 50 tons of G. sylvestre leaves are consumed annually for the purpose of weight loss.[26][27] Early research suggests that taking a specific combination of Gymnema sylvestre extract, hydroxycitric acid, and niacin-bound chromium by mouth for 8 weeks might reduce body weight in people who are overweight or obese.[28]
- Traditional uses: In Eastern and Ayurvedic medicine, G. sylvestre leaves and extracts have been used to treat eye diseases, allergies, constipation, cough, dental caries, obesity, stomach ailments, and viral infections. G. sylvestre has also been used as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and aphrodisiac.[5][14][26]
Etymology[edit]
Gymnema derives from the Greek words gymnos (γυμνὀς) and nēma (νῆμα) meaning "naked" and "thread", respectively; the species epitheton sylvestre means "of the forest" in Latin.[29]
The Hindi and Urdu name gurmar, Sanskrit madhunashini, Malayalam chakkarakolli, Tamil சிறுகுறுஞ்சான் ,and Telugu podapatri, literally mean "sugar destroyer". (Sanskrit) meshasringa translates as "ram's horn", a name given to the plant due to the shape of its fruits.
References[edit]
- ^ "Integrated Taxonomic Information System". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- ^ Duke JA, ed. (2002). Handbook of medicinal herbs (2nd ed.). CRC Press. p. 855. ISBN 978-0-8493-1284-7.
- ^ Quattrocchi U (1999-11-23). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Taylor & Francis US. ISBN 978-0849326769.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Tiwari P, Mishra BN, Sangwan NS (2014). "Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Gymnema sylvestre: an important medicinal plant". BioMed Research International. 2014: 830285. doi:10.1155/2014/830285. PMC 3912882. PMID 24511547.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d Ulbricht C, Abrams TR, Basch E, Davies-Heerema T, Foppa I, Hammerness P, Rusie E, Tanguay-Colucci S, Taylor S, Ulbricht C, Varghese M, Weissner W, Woods J (2011). "An evidence-based systematic review of gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration". Journal of Dietary Supplements. 8 (3): 311–30. doi:10.3109/19390211.2011.597977. PMID 22432729. S2CID 29228955.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Kurihara Y (1969). "Antisweet activity of gymnemic acid A1 and its derivatives". Life Sciences. 8 (9): 537–43. doi:10.1016/0024-3205(69)90449-4. PMID 5791706.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Gent JF, Hettinger TP, Frank ME, Marks LE (1999). "Taste confusions following gymnemic acid rinse". Chemical Senses. 24 (4): 393–403. doi:10.1093/chemse/24.4.393. PMID 10480675.
- ^ Sanematsu K, Kusakabe Y, Shigemura N, Hirokawa T, Nakamura S, Imoto T, Ninomiya Y (September 2014). "Molecular mechanisms for sweet-suppressing effect of gymnemic acids". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289 (37): 25711–20. doi:10.1074/jbc.M114.560409. PMC 4162174. PMID 25056955.
- ^ Gardner Z, McGuffin M (2013). American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1466516946.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Brala PM, Hagen RL (January 1983). "Effects of sweetness perception and caloric value of a preload on short term intake". Physiology & Behavior. 30 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1016/0031-9384(83)90030-6. PMID 6836034. S2CID 21639511.
- ^ Drury H (1869). Hand-book of Indian Flora. Madras: Trabancore Sircar Press. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-143-66359-8.
- ^ Yeh GY, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ, Phillips RS (April 2003). "Systematic review of herbs and dietary supplements for glycemic control in diabetes". Diabetes Care. 26 (4): 1277–94. doi:10.2337/diacare.26.4.1277. PMID 12663610.
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