Gurmar Extract

Gymnema Sylvestre is an herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India. Chewing the leaves suppresses the sensation of sweetness. This effect is attributed to the presence of the eponymously named gymnemic acids. The plant is stomachic, stimulant, laxative, diuretic and useful in cough. The leaves of the plant, when chewed possess the remarkable property of paralyzing the sense of taste for sweet and bitter substances for some time. The leaves are used as a remedy for diabetes.

Gymnema Sylvestre leaves contain triterpene saponins. Oleanane saponins are gymnemic acids and gymnemasaponins, while dammarene saponins are gymnemasides. Besides this, other plant constituents are flavones, anthraquinones, hentriacontane, pentatriacontane, α and β-chlorophylls, phytin, resins, d-quercitol, tartaric acid, formic acid, butyric acid, lupeol, β-amyrin-related glycosides, and stigmasterol. The plant extract also tests positive for alkaloids. Leaves of this species yield acidic glycosides and anthraquinones and their derivatives.