Tiwari Pragya, Mishra B N, Sangwan Neelam S
Metabolic and Structural Biology Department, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow 226015, India.
Department of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddh Technical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226021, India.
Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:830285. doi: 10.1155/2014/830285. Epub 2014 Jan 6.
Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae), popularly known as "gurmar" for its distinct property as sugar destroyer, is a reputed herb in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. The phytoconstituents responsible for sweet suppression activity includes triterpene saponins known as gymnemic acids, gymnemasaponins, and a polypeptide, gurmarin. The herb exhibits a broad range of therapeutic effects as an effective natural remedy for diabetes, besides being used for arthritis, diuretic, anemia, osteoporosis, hypercholesterolemia, cardiopathy, asthma, constipation, microbial infections, indigestion, and anti-inflammatory. G. sylvestre has good prospects in the treatment of diabetes as it shows positive effects on blood sugar homeostasis, controls sugar cravings, and promotes regeneration of pancreas. The herbal extract is used in dietary supplements since it reduces body weight, blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and holds great prospects in dietary as well as pharmacological applications. This review explores the transition of a traditional therapeutic to a modern contemporary medication with an overview of phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of the herb and its phytoconstituents.
匙羹藤（萝摩科），因其独特的“糖破坏者”特性而广为人知，被称为“降糖草”，是阿育吠陀医学体系中一种著名的草药。负责甜味抑制活性的植物成分包括称为匙羹藤酸的三萜皂苷、匙羹藤皂苷和一种多肽，即匙羹藤素。除了用于治疗关节炎、利尿、贫血、骨质疏松、高胆固醇血症、心脏病、哮喘、便秘、微生物感染、消化不良和抗炎外，这种草药作为糖尿病的有效天然疗法还具有广泛的治疗作用。匙羹藤在糖尿病治疗方面具有良好前景，因为它对血糖稳态有积极作用，能控制对糖的渴望，并促进胰腺再生。这种草药提取物用于膳食补充剂，因为它能降低体重、血液胆固醇和甘油三酯水平，在膳食以及药理学应用方面都有很大前景。本综述探讨了一种传统疗法向现代当代药物的转变，并概述了该草药及其植物成分的植物化学和药理活性。
