Description:

Arabic Name : Barkista
Bengali Name : Meshsingi, Gurmar
English Name : Small Indian Ipecacuanha, Miracle Fruit, Gymnema
French Name : ipécacuanha
German Name : Gymnema, Merasingi
Gujarati Name : Kavali
Hindi Name : Gurmar, Gudmar
Kannada Name : Kadhasige
Latin name : Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.
Marathi Name : Kavki, Medhaashingi
Persian Name : Kista
Sanskrit Name : Madhunashni, Meshshrangi, Sarpadarushtri
Urdu Name : Gurmar Buti

Description: This herb has been given the name ‘gur-mar’ meaning‘sugar destroyer’ because of its property of abolishing the tasteof sugar. It has the unique property of inhibiting the taste ofsugar. When Gymnema is taken before eating, the molecules of one ofits constituents, gymnemic acid (whose molecular structure issimilar to that of sugar), fill the sugar-taste receptor sites onthe tongue for one to two hours, thus preventing the taste budsfrom reacting to the sugar molecules in food and blocking the tasteof sugar. It blocks up to 50% of the absorption of sugar. In doingso, it will not affect the taste of food but will suppress thedesire of sweets. It has been in India for more than 2000 years toregulate sugar metabolism with success.

The plant is antidiabetic, antiperiodic, astringent, digestive,diuretic, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, laxative, refrigerant,stomachic and tonic. This is one of the main herbs used for healingdiabetes mellitus. It has been believed, therefore, that it mightneutralise the excess sugar present in the body in diabetesmellitus. The leaves raise insulin levels in Type 2 (adult-onset)diabetes by regeneration of the cells in the pancreas that secreteinsulin.

Other research has shown that it also improves uptake of glucoseinto cells by increasing the activity of the glucose utilisingenzymes, and prevents adrenaline from stimulating the liver toproduce glucose, thereby reducing blood sugar levels in both Type 1and Type 2 diabetes. Gymnema has been successful in controlling theblood sugar level without reducing it to below the normal bloodsugar level, an effect seen with the use of insulin or oralhypoglycemic sulphonylurea compounds.

The leaves are also noted for lowering serum cholesterol andtriglycerides. It also acts as a cardiovascular stimulant.