Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, October-December 2020, Vol. 14, No. 4 1081 Sylvestre - A Review

Arumugam Rajalakshmi 1, 2, Govindarajan Sumathy3 1Research Scholar, Department of Anatomy, Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 2 Assistant professor, Department of Anatomy, Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences, 3Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, BIHER.

Abstract Many people suffering with diabetes mellitus with increased risk of complication which affects the quality of day today life style this increases the mortality rate of the people. To reduce the people financial burden and to prevent the side effects of diabetes mellitus, an extract of called Gymnemasylvestre’s shows a potential effect in reducing the sugar level.Gymnema leaves have the mixture of bioactive constituent’s tri-terpenes, glycosides and saponin property which represents the antidiabetic property. Theleaves of are used in herbal medicinal preparation. Theleaves of Gymnema sylvestre contain both antidiabetic and hypolipedemic properties. Here the review of such plant is discussed in this paper.

Keywords:Gymnema sylvestre, glycosides, saponin, Diabetes mellitus.

Introduction The leaves of the plant are also used as a digestive, hypoglycemic, antiviral,and antiallergic and antiobesity During the last decades, the medicinal are used (10) agent for the treatment of diabetes,obesity and for long term remedies for human diseases. Nowadays, dental caries. The main constituents of Gymnema are there is an increased demand for using herbs in therapy believed to be gymnemic acid,a mixture of 17 different instead of using synthetic drug which may have adverse saponins. The purpose of this work is concerned with effect. Traditionally Gymnema is a large woody screening the review of the plant for antidiabetic and climbing plant belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae, hypoglycemic properties of leaves of G. sylvestre. widely spread in India, Indonesia, Australia and japan. Theleaves of the plant have triterpenoid saponin in the it is commonly known as gurmar (Hindi), madhunashini cells of plant parts called gymnemic acid which is the (Sanskrit) sirukurinjan (Tamil) Both the dried leaf and principle controlling component of diabetes mellitus (1). root powder G.sylvestreare used for diabetic medicine the leaves of gymnema are reported to be bitter (11) Morphology of Gymnema sylvestre: they temporarily paralyze the sensory perception of sweet and or this amazing property it is also known as Gymnema sylvestre(Fig. 1) is a large, stout, woody sugar destroyer (6).Gymnema leaves have the mixture shrub growing plant which belongs to the family of of bioactive constituents tri-terpenes,glycosides and Asclepiadaceae. It is mainly located in central and saponin property viz,gymnemic acid,gymnemagenin southern India. Theleaves of Gymnema sylvestre are and gurmarin which represents the antidiabetic property. elliptic and oppositeflowers are small and yellow in colour up to 3 inches in length. The calyxes are long, ovate and obtuse. The taste of leaf is slightly bitter. It Corresponding author also possesses remarkable property of destroying the Govindarajan Sumathy sense of the taste for sweet substance for few hours Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, while chewing the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre.Hence Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, it is commonly called as sugar destroyer.Gymnema Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research, sylvestre leaf powder is tasteless with a faint pleasant Chennai, Tamil Nadu, [email protected] aromatic odour. 1082 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, October-December 2020, Vol. 14, No. 4 dyspepsia, leucoderma, and Parkinsonism.The plant extract is also useful in the treatment of piles, colic pain, dropsy, phlegm, and eye troubles, cardiac and respiratory diseases. Many literatures reveals that G. sylvestre is a popular plant in treating diabetes and also used in the treatment of asthma, the root is used for snake bite, urinary complaints and colic pain.

Side Effects ofGymnema

Chronic usage of the drug leads in lowering the blood pressure. It is a hepatotoxic substance which causes damage to the liver. The Gymnemic acid and Gurmarine suppresses the ability to detect the sweet Kingdom -Plantae taste. Gymnema has been reported to possess a sweet- Division -Angiosperms taste suppressing effect, attributed to the peptide (4, 7-9).

Class - Dicotyledons Phytochemical screening

Order -Contortae Freshly prepared extract were subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis to find out the Family -Asclepiadaceae presence of the following phytoconstituents. They are Genus - Gymnema saponin, glycosides, tannins, alkaloids, triterpenoid, coumarins, and phenol and also have hypoglycemic Species - G.sylvestre activities.These analyses will determine the biologically Fig. 1 Gymnema sylvestre active compounds that contribute to the flavor, colour, and other characteristics of leaves and show their medicinal Uses of gymnema sylvestre: activity and the hypoglycemic activity of the plant Gymnema has played an important role in extract.The major bioactive components of G.sylvestre traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.The leaves include olenane-type of triterpenoid saponins known as also have been used for stomach ailments, constipation gymnemic acids.The main constituents of gymnema are and hemorrhoids, water retention, and liver disease. The believed to be gymnemic acid,a mixture of 17 different . flowers, leaves, and fruits have been used in the treatment saponins (1) of alterations of blood pressure and heart rhythms. Saponins are naturally occurring glycosides which Chewing the leaves destroys the ability to identify the is produced by the plant G. sylvestre.The triterpenoid sweet taste, giving it the common Hindi name of gurmar, is generally predominant.The saponin inhibits the or “sugar destroyer.” The plant has been used in traditional cholesterol absorption from the intestinal tract.Saponins medicine, most notably to control blood sugar. Use of are large molecules contains a hydrophilic part and gymnema as a lipid-lowering agent, for weight loss, and lipophilic part.Saponin has the capacity of reducing to prevent cavities has also been investigated, in animal the surface tension of water. This is due to the fact studies. The bark is useful as an emetic and expectorant. that the saponin molecules with their hydrophilic Also used for malaria, digestive stimulant, laxative, ends lie away from the water. This produces the foam appetitesuppressant and diuretic. And also as analgesic formation when dissolved in water. Saponins are for body ache. Moreover it is used as anti-inflammatory, glycosides.They are divided into two classes based anodyne, liver tonic, emetic, thermogenic, stomachic, on the structure of ring.The steroidal saponin contains anthelmintics, cardiotonic, expectorant, antipyretic, four-ringed steroidal andtriterpenoid saponin have and uterine tonic.Significance place in the treatment of a five ringed structure. Thephytochemical test were jaundice, constipation, cardiopathy, asthma, bronchitis, carried on ethanolic extract of gymnema sylvestre which amenorrhoea, conjunctivitis, renal and vesical calculi, Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, October-December 2020, Vol. 14, No. 4 1083 shows the presence of following components such for management of various diseases.When compared, asalkaloids,glycosides,saponin,phenol,coumarin and it is also safer than synthetic drugs.Anatomical triterpenoids. characterization provides additional support towards authentication and elimination of adulteration of market The plant has been used in traditional medicine, sample of potent medicinal plants as G.sylvestre(5).The most notably to control blood sugar. Use of Gymnema Gymnema leaf main component is saponin and gymnemic as a lipid lowering agent, for weight loss and to prevent acid,which plays a role by treating the diabetic.Presence cavities has also been investigated, primarily in rat or of different types of phytochemical constituents such mouse studies. However little to no clinical information as alkaloids,tannins,saponins,anthraquinone and is available to support the use of Gymnema for any glycosides give an idea that the ethanolic leaf extract of indication. G. Sylvestre can be used as an accessible source for type Pharmacological uses 2 diabetes mellitus (14). Further research is necessary to find the active compounds within these plants with their Gymnemasylvestre helps to promote weight loss as it full spectrum of efficacy. has the ability to reduce cravings for sweets and controls the blood sugar level.Thecombined effect of G.sylvestre Ethical Clearance – Not required since it is a and hydroxycitric acid, niacin bound chromium serves review article as an effective weight loss formula which promotes Source of Funding – nil the healthy blood lipid level (2).Its leaves increases the secretion of insulin, promotes regeneration of islets of Conflict of Interest – nil Langerhans, increases the utilization of glucose and causes inhibition of glucose absorption from intestine References (12). 1. Aneesa Rani., MS, Chandra Sekaran, S and Vijaykumar, Invitroproduction of secondary Antidiabetic activity: metabolites in Gymnema sylvestre. Indian.J.Hort. The ethanolic extractof gymnema sylvestre reduced (2010):67(1) 85-89. the blood glucose level in diabetes. In the present 2. AnkitSanejaGymnemasylvestre-a review scholars study the phytochemical testing shows a saponin rich research library-der pharmacia letter,2010: 2(1) component. The action of crude saponin fraction and 275-284 five triterpene glycosides derived from the methanol 3. .Ayyavoojayachitra- journal of pharmacological extract of G.sylvestre(16). and toxicological investigations volume 1: issue 3: dec 2015. Hypolipidemic activity: 4. AnupamBishayeeMalayChatterjee, The administration of leaf extract found to shows Hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic effects of oral Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. Leaf extract in reduction in elevated serum triglyceride,total cholesterol, albino rats fed on a high fat diet. Phytotherapy low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein Research,1994, Willey Online library, in dose dependent manner (4). 5. Brala P, Hagen R. Effects of sweetness perception Antimicrobial activity: and caloric value of a preload on short term intake. PhysiolBehav. 1983;30:1–9. The ethanolic extract of gymnema sylvestre showed 6. DebasmitaDuttaPramanick, Botanical Survey of antimicrobial activity against bacillus pumilis, b.subtilis, India,Anatomical studies on the leaf of Gymnema pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus (14) and sylvestre (Retz.)R.Br.exSchult. (): A not against Escherichia coli (13). magical herbal medicine for diabetes.International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2016; 4(1): 70-72. Conclusion 7. Gulab.s. Thakur Gymnemaslvestre: an alternative Herbal compounds have received much attention therapeutic agent for management of diabetes.,- 1084 Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, October-December 2020, Vol. 14, No. 4 journal of applied pharmaceutical sciences. dec 12. LawlessHT. Evidence for neural inhibition in 2012:Vol.2 (12):Pg.001-006. bittersweet tastemixtures [abstract]. J Comp 8. 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