Meshashringi

Botanical Source : Gymnema sylvestre

Family : Asclepiadaceae

Common Names :

Hindi- Gurmar;

Marathi- Kavali, Vakundai;

Bengali – Merasingi

Tamil- Cheru.

Sanskrit Synonyms :

Vishaani, Mashunaashini, Ajashringi, Vartika, Chakshushya, Putrashreni, Meshavalli, Sarpadanshtra.

Botanical Description:

G. sylvestre is a large, woody and mush branched climber distributed in the dry forests throughout India up to an altitude of 600m. It is mostly found in Deccan peninsula and occasionally cultivated as medicinal plant.

Leaves are simple, opposite, elliptic or ovate and more or less pubescent on both sides.

Flowers are small yellow, umbellate cymes; actinomorphic.

Fruits- paired, terete, rigid;

Seeds- numersous, narrowly ovoid- oblong.

Chemical Constituents

Leaves contains no. of pentacyclic triterpenic acid glycosides, the major components being gymnemic acid which yield glucoronic acid on hydrolysis. Leaves also contain tartaric acid, resin, carbohydrates and albumin.

Quercitol, calcium oxalate and pigments.

Also anthraquinones.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta

Guna : Laghu, Ruksha

Veerya : Ushna

Vipaaka : Katu

Doshakarma : Kaphavaatashaamaka

Actions : Appetiser, hepatic stimulant.

Used as astringent, tonic, stomachic and refrigerant.

External Applications : Leaves mixed with castor oil useful in glandular swelling, hepatitis and splenic disorders (enlargement); roots are used for application in snake bite.

Internal Applications :

Gymnema leaves and gymnemic acid is used as an antidiabetic agent. Its vernacular name ‘Gulmar’ meaning ‘Sugar destroying’ accounts for its property of obolishing the taste of sugar. Gymnema anaesthetises the sweet taste buds- the effect last for several hours.

It is useful in skin disorders related to diabetes and other similar disorders.

Root has emetic properties used in cardiac failure.

Seeds or roots in the form of smoking are used to relieve common cold and breathlessness. It is very useful in diabetes and calculi.

A dose of 1-2 gm leaf powder with honey or cow’s milk is given twice a day, it is useful in amnorrhoea, typhoid fever and general debility.

Part(s) Used : roots, leaves, seeds.

Dose : Leaf powder 3-6 gm; decoction 50-100ml.