Gymnema sylvestre – Gudmar Plant, Madhunashini

Description

Gurmar is found in dry deciduous forests of India and is also called Madhunasini / Gudmar whereas, in Sanskrit, it is called Mehashringi. The leaves are simple opposite and ovate-elliptic. The flowers are yellow in colour. It grows as a woody climber. It roots at the nodes. Leaves and roots are used medicinally. The name itself signifies as it kills sugar. Hence, popularly Gudmar is known as ‘the insulin plant’. The plants are available in nurseries and the tablets of this are prepared by pharmaceutical companies.