GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE: A REVIEW OF ITS PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
*Prakash Dabadi, Patil Geeta Ganganagouda and A. M. Krupanidhi
Gymnema sylvestre, a plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family, is native to various regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. It has long been used in traditional medicine and is currently popular as a dietary supplement owing to its numerous health benefits. G. sylvestre is commonly used in both traditional and Ayurvedic medicine, primarily because of its ability to lower blood glucose levels. This glucose-lowering effect is attributed to its phytochemical content, which includes compounds such as gurmarin, gymnemic acid, and gymnemasaponins. In addition to its role in managing diabetes, the plant is also used to treat a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, diuretic issues, anemia, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, heart disease, asthma, constipation, infections, indigestion, and inflammation. Additionally, Gymnema sylvestre is recognized for its antioxidant, antibiotic, antiviral, gastrointestinal, and liver-protective properties, as well as its anticancer and lipid-lowering effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological and clinical benefits of Gymnema sylvestre, along with the chemical components linked to these therapeutic properties.
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