Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.: Phytochemicals and Medicinal Properties

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. (Family: Apocynaceae), commonly called ‘gurmar’, is a commercially important medicinal plant. It is traditionally used as an antidiabetic agent, which is mainly due to the presence of gymnemic acids (triterpenoid glycosides). The plant is also a good source of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, steroidal glycosides, sterols, etc. Gurmarin, a protein, is known to suppress sweet taste. Its bioactive compounds have shown diverse therapeutic potentials viz., anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, radioprotective, antimicrobial, hypolipidaemic. Some of these medicinal properties have been validated through clinical trials. The present review focuses on the traditional phytochemical, medicinal properties, pharmacological and clinical trials undertaken on G. sylvestre.