Family Name: Asclepiadaceae
Botanical Name(s): Gymnema Sylvestre
Popular Name(s): Periploca of the woods, Gudma
Parts Used: Whole Plant and Leaves
Habitat: Grows in tropical forests of the central and southern parts of India
Description: Gymnema Sylvestre is a woody, vine-like plant, which climbs on bushes and trees. The medicinally active parts of the plant are the leaves and the roots. It came to be known as "destroyer of sugar" in ancient times.
Uses: It is useful in hepatosplenomegaly, dypepsia, constipation, jaundice, halminthiasis, cardiopathy, amenorrhoea. The fresh leaves when chewed have the remarkable property of paralyzing the sense of taste for sweet and bitter substance for some time.