Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.)R.Br. ex Sm.
| Synonym : | Asclepias geminata Roxb. Marsdenia sylvestris (Retz.)P.I. Forst. Periploca sylvestris Retz. Str |
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| Bangla Name : | Meshashrunga |
| English Name : | Cowplant |
| Family : | Asclepiadaceae |
| Disease : | Diabetes |
| Description : | Twining subshrubs, branchlets fulvous-tomentose. Leaves 4-7 x 3-5 cm, elliptic to ovate or obovate, apex obtusely acute, base truncate or obtuse, subcoriaceous, densely tomentose below, nerves 3 pairs; petiole 1-3 cm long. Flowers 4 mm across in umbellate cymes, many together; peduncle to 1 cm long, hispid; pedicels 6 mm long, slender; sepals 2 mm long, ovate; corolla campanulate, yellow, 2.5 mm long, tube globose, lobes triangular; corolline corona 5 vertical pairs of pubescent ridges; gynostegium 1.5 x 1 mm, cylindrical. Follicle 7.5 x 0.8 cm, lanceolate, seeds 10 x 5 mm, much compressed |
| Distribution : | |
| Chemical Constituents : | Plant bases, choline, betaine etc. Leaves contain an antisaccharin principle gymnemic acid; gymnamine, nonacosane, hentriacontane, tritriacontane and conduritol. |
| Uses : | This plant is used in Diabetes. |
| Habit : | Climber |