Gymnema montanum Health Dictionary

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Gymnema Montanum: From 1 Different Sources

Hook. f.

Guizotia abyssinica Cass.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical Africa. Cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa.

English: Nigerseed.

Family: Asclepidaceae.

Habitat: Western Ghats from Konkan southwards.

Folk: Gurmaar (related species).

Action: See G. sylvertre.

The leaves contain gymnemic acid.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Baliospermum Montanum

(Willd.) Muell.-Arg.

Synonym: B. axillare Bl. B. polyandrum Wt. Croton polyandrus Roxb.

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas, Assam, Khasi Hills, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Peninsular India, ascending to 1,800 m.

Ayurvedic: Danti, Nikumbha, Udumbarparni, Erandphalaa, Shighraa, Pratyak-shreni, Vishaalya. Baliospermum calycinum Muell- Arg. is considered as Naagadanti.

Siddha/Tamil: Neeradimuthu, Danti.

Folk: Jangli Jamaalgotaa.

Action: Seed—purgative. Leaves— purgative (also used in dropsy), antiasthmatic (decoction is given in asthma). Latex—used for body ache and pain of joints. Root and seed oil—cathartic, antidropsical.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of dried root in jaundice, abdominal lump and splenomegaly.

The presence of steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids is reported in the leaves. The root contains phorbol derivatives. EtOH extract of roots showed in vivo activity in P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia.

Dosage: Root—103 g powder. (API Vol. III.)... baliospermum montanum

Gnetum Montanum

Markgraf.

Synonym: G. scandens Roxb. in part.

Family: Gnetaceae.

Habitat: Tropical Himalayas from Nepal to Bhutan, Assam and Meghalaya.

English: Joint Fir.

Siddha/Tamil: Anapendu, Peiodal (G. ula.)

Action: Seed oil—antirheumatic. Plant— antiperiodic. Leaves— piscic.

The stem-wood yielded bergenin, acetophenone and stilbene derivatives.

G. ula Brongn. non-Karst is found in evergreen forests of Western and Eastern Ghats up to 1,800 m.... gnetum montanum

Gymnema Sylvestre

B. Br.

Family: Asclepiadaceae.

Habitat: Central and Peninsular India.

English: Australian Cow Plant, Ipecacuanha (Indian).

Ayurvedic: Meshashringi, Meshav- ishaanikaa, Meshavalli, Chhaagal- shrngi. Ajashringi (also equated with Dolichandrone falcata and Pergularia extensa).

Unani: Gurmaar Buuti.

Siddha/Tamil: Kannu Minnayam- kodi, Passaam, Shirukurinja.

Action: Leaf—antidiabetic. Stimulates the heart and circulatory system, activates the uterus. Used in parageusia and furunculosis. Plant—diuretic, antibilious. Root— emetic, expectorant, astringent, stomachic.

Gymnemagenin, the main sapoge- nin in the leaves, yielded 3.9-4.6% of total gymnemic acids.

Gymnemic acids are antisweet principles and exhibit inhibitory effect on levels of plasma glucose.

The extract of dried leaves, given to diabetic rats at a dose of 20 mg/day per rat for 8 weeks, was found to bring about blood glucose homoeostasis by increasing serum insulin levels. Increased glycoprotein level and the resultant nephropathy, retinopathy and micro-and macro-angiopathy were also controlled.

The leaf extract (25-100 mg/kg), when orally administered to experimentally induced hyperlipidaemic rats for 2 weeks, reduced the elevated serum triglyceride and total cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. The efficacy and antiatherosclerotic potential of the extract (100 mg/kg) were comparable to that of a lipid lowering agent, clofibrate.

In homoeopathy, a drug obtained from the leaves and roots is prescribed for both diabetes mellitus and insipidus Gymnemic acid is reported to inhibit melanin formation in vitro. It also inhibits dental plaque formation.

Dosage: Root, leaf-3-5 g powder; 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... gymnema sylvestre

Gymnema Tea - The Destroyer Of Sugar

Gymnema tea is known for its sugar killing properties. Gymnema (gymnema sylvestre) is a woody plant that grows mainly in the forests of central and southern India. The plant climbs on bushes and trees, has elliptical leaves and small flowers with a yellow corolla. Gymnema is also known as the “destroyer of sugar”. In ancient times, some physicians noticed that chewing gymnema leaves can suppress the taste of sugar. Currently, gymnena is being administrated in India to those who suffer from diabetes, for increasing insulin levels and controlling the blood sugar levels. The constituents of gymnema tea are gymnemic acid, parabin, glucose and carbohydrates. How To Make Gymnema Tea Brewing gymnema tea is a very simple process. You can make it by combining dried gymnema leaves with green tea loose leaf and placing them into boiled water. Let the mix steep for about 5-7 minutes. The more you let it steep, the more intensified the flavor will be. Gymnema Tea Benefits
  • Helps reducing blood sugar levels.
  • Is a strong allied in the process of weight loss.
  • May help treat swollen glands.
  • Has anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Helps treating snakebites.
  • Reduces the craving for sugar.
Gymnema Tea Side Effects
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not drink gymnema tea. Not enough is known about consuming gymnema tea during pregnancy so, it is better to avoid it.
  • Gymnema tea may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures.
Ass you can see, gymnema tea has a lot of health benefits. Just make sure you stay away from its side effects and, also, avoid over-consumption! No more than 1-2 cups of gymnema tea per day!... gymnema tea - the destroyer of sugar

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 - 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 mixture of triterpene saponins. These have been designated as gymnemic acids A,B,C and D which have the gymnemagenin and gymnestrogenins as the aglycones of gymnemic acid A and B and gymnemic acid C and D respectively. These are hexahydroxy triterpenes the latter being partially acylated. The sugar residues are glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid while ferulic and angelic acids have been attached as the carboxylic acid.

Chewing of leaves reduces sensitivity to sweet substances. Effects of gymnema extracts had been variable. While verifying the effect of G. sylvestre leaves on detoxification of snake venom, it has been reported that a toxic component of venom ATP and gymnemate bind at the same site inhibiting venom ATP-ase. The active principles which have been identified as glycosides (7 gymnemic acids) suggest that the topical and selective anaesthetic effect of the plant might result from the competition of the receptor sites between glycosides and the sweet substances (Warren et al, 1969). The leaves are antidiabetic and insulinotropic. Gymnemic acid is antiviral. The plant is bitter, astringent, acrid, thermogenic, antiinflammatory, anodyne, digestive, liver tonic, emetic, diuretic, stomachic, stimulant, anthelmintic, alexipharmic, laxative, cardiotonic, expectorant, antipyretic and uterine tonic.... gymnema

Gymnema Hirsutum

Wight & Arn.

Family: Asclepiadaceae.

Habitat: Southern parts of Uttar Pradesh adjoining Madhya Pradesh, also in Bihar and Western Ghats.

Folk: Gurmaar (related species).

Action: Leaf—when chewed, temporarily paralyses the sense of taste for sweet and bitter substances. Plant—used as stomachic, bechic, expectorant, and in male impotency, poor lactation.

The leaves contain gymnemic acid.... gymnema hirsutum

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