Description:

Gymnema sylvestre is an herb native to the tropicalforests of southern andcentral India and Sri Lanka. Chewingthe leaves suppresses the sensationof sweet. Thiseffect is attributed to the presence of the eponymouslynamedgymnemic acids. G.sylvestre has beenused in herbal medicine as a treatmentfor diabetes for nearly twomillennia andthough there is insufficient scientific evidence to draw definitiveconclusions about its efficacy two small clinical trials have showngymnema to reduce glycosylated hemoglobinlevels. Common names include gymnema, cowplant, Australian cowplant, gurmari, gurmarbooti,gurmar, periploca of the woods, meshasringa,  Bedki chapala and miraclefruit.

Gymnema reducesthe taste of sugar when it is placed in the mouth.From extract of the leaves were isolated glycosides known as gymnemic acids, which exhibit anti-sweetactivity. This effect lasts up to about 2 hours.Some postulate that the herb may block sugar receptors onthe tongue.