Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema sylvestre)

Description

Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) is a perennial woody climbing vine native to Asia. It is also known as Australian cowplant, Periploca of the woods, and in Hindi as Gurmar, meaning “sugar destroyer.” The leaves and their extracts are rich in gymnemic acids, the key bioactive compounds that can interact with taste receptors to temporarily reduce the perception of sweetness. This climber has elongated oval leaves with fine hairs on the upper surface and produces small yellow umbel-shaped flowers throughout the year. With a long tradition of use in herbal medicine, Gymnema is valued for its wide range of therapeutic benefits.