Gymnema

Scientific names: Gymnema sylvestre

Common names: Gymnema also is known as meshashringi, gurmar, merasingi, and periploca of the woods.

Efficacy-safety rating:

ÒÒ...Ethno or other evidence of efficacy.

Safety rating:

●...Little exposure or very minor concerns.

What is Gymnema?

Gymnema sylvestre is a woody, climbing plant indigenous to the tropical forests of central and southern India. Distribution is worldwide and it is recognized in the traditional medicinal literature of many countries including Australia, Japan, and Vietnam. The leaves most commonly are used, but the stem also appears to have some pharmacologic action. Gymnema has been referred to in some texts as Asclepias geminata, Gymnema melicida, and Periploca sylvestris.

What is Gymnema used for?

Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses

Gymnema has played an important role in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Its use has been confined primarily to the management of diabetes mellitus and similar hypo/hyperglycemic conditions. As early as 1930, the pharmacologic effect of the plant was investigated. The leaves also have been used for stomach ailments, constipation, water retention, and liver disease. The flowers, leaves, and fruits have been used in the treatment of either high or low blood pressure, tachycardia, and arrhythmias. Chewing the leaves destroys the ability to discriminate the sweet taste, giving it the common Hindi name of gurmar, or “sugar destroyer.”

The plant has been used alone and as a component of the Ayurvedic medicinal compound Tribang shila, a mixture of tin, lead, zinc, G. sylvestre leaves, neem (Melia azadirachta) leaves, Enicostemma littorale, and jambul (Eugenia jambolana) seeds. The plant has become available in a number of commercial OTC herbal products in North America and Europe.

Diabetes

The plant has been used in traditional medicine, most notably to control blood glucose. A systematic review of herbs and dietary supplements used for glycemic control in diabetes has been conducted. It concluded that the evidence for beneficial effects of gymnema in diabetes is suggestive, although inconclusive given the limited data.

Cholesterol reduction

Reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides was reported in a study of diabetic patients who received gymnema. More clinical studies are needed to prove its lipid lowering effects.

Weight loss

Reduction in weight and also upper abdominal, waist, and hip circumferences was noted in a study of individuals given a dietary supplement combination which included gymnema. More clinical studies are needed to prove its weight loss effects.

Anti-inflammatory

Anti-inflammatory properties of gymnema have been demonstrated in animal studies. However, there are no human studies to support this use.

Other uses

Use of gymnema for inhibition of caries also has been investigated because of its antibacterial properties. Gymnema extract also interferes with the ability of taste buds to taste sweet and bitter flavors.

What is the dosage of Gymnema?

Typically, clinical studies investigating antidiabetic effects have used 200 or 400 mg of an extract standardized to contain 25% gymnemic acids administered twice daily