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. 2007 Sep;41(2):77-81.
doi: 10.3164/jcbn.2007010.

Gymnema sylvestre: A Memoir

Affiliations

Gymnema sylvestre: A Memoir

Parijat Kanetkar et al. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 Sep.

Abstract

Gymnema sylvestre is regarded as one of the plants with potent anti diabetic properties. This plant is also used for controlling obesity in the form of Gymnema tea. The active compound of the plant is a group of acids termed as gymnemic acids. It has been observed that there could be a possible link between obesity, Gymnemic acids and diabetes. This review will try to put forth an overall idea about the plant as well as present a molecular perspective linking the common medicine to the most common metabolic disorders.

Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre; Gymnemic acids; antidiabetic; herbal drug; obesity.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
G. sylvestre parent plant (Courtesy: Laila Impex, Hyderabad, India. 2005).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Basic molecular structure of Gymnemic acid [8]
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schematic representation of competitive inhibition of receptor site on intestine by Gymnemic acid [12]
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Resistin and its areas of linkage [23]
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Linkage between obesity, diabetes mellitus and Gymnemic acids [12]

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