COMMON NAME: Sirukurinjan
BOTANICAL NAME: Gymnema sylvestre
FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae
ACTIONS: Anti-Diabetic, Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory, Laxative.
ORGIN: Tropical asia
PROPAGATION: The plant can be multiplied either by seeds or by stem cuttings.
- Leaf powder can be dusted or applied as a paste on the wounds due to snake bite. Infusion of dried leaves should be given internally.
- Seed powder helps to cure Cough, Rhinitis and Asthma.
- Leaves also cures Gastrointestinal dissorders like Constipation and Gas trouble when given as powder or infusion.
- Gymnema has pronounced effects on blood sugar, at least among diabetics. Within the past two decades researchers have determined that gymnema extracts mat even play a role in the treatment of Type 1 diabetics, who typically need daily injections of insulin to control the disease.
- Gymnema taken orally lowers blood glucose levels and improves blood fat and cholesterol profiles. This climber is extensively used in almost all the Indian system of medicine as a remedy for rheumatism, cough, ulcer and pain in eyes.
- It is also useful in inflammations, dyspepsia, constipation, jaundice etc., Roots have been reported as remedy for snakebite.
- The anti-diabetic property of the plant is attributed to the presence of mixture of triterpines and saponins in the leaves.
- These have been designated as gymnemic acids A, B, C and D, which have the gymnemagenin and gymnestrogenins.