A MIRACLE FRUIT PLANT- Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. (Retz)

Headnote

ABSTRACT

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. is one of the priceless rare vine of central ecoregion belongs to the family Asclipiadaceae- milk weed. It is popularly known as Gurmar mostly found in India, despite the part used being the leaf; one special name of this species is miracle fruit. Chewing the leaves, the tongue is unable to taste sweets, and the literal translation of this plant's name is "sugar killer" or "destroyer of sugar". It grows in the tropical forests of India and has been used for more than 2,000 years in traditional system of medicines. This plant has also found application in pharmaceuticals; whole plant is rich in secondary metabolites, which impart medicinal uses to the plant. Ethonolic extract of leafs have tenins, gum, flawnoids, proteins, saponins and also contains a minute amount of fixed oil. The principal constituent, Gymnemic acid is found in the Gymnema saponins from aqueous leaf extract. It is one of the common plants used in Indian system of medicine. Various parts of the plant are used in the treatment of skin problem, bronchitis, antifungal, eye-disease, cancer, diabetes, digestive, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant, stomachic, uterine tonic and urinogenital infection etc. It has antidiabetic, antisweetener and anti-inflammatory activity. Root emetic and removes phlegm; external application is useful in insect bite. In addition, it possesses antimicrobial, anodyne, skin cosmetic, antihypercholesterolemic and hepatoprotective. The point of view of phytochemistry gives scope for enhancement of the quality and quantity of the bioactive secondary metabolites occurring in the plant. Different studies on its multiple uses attracted attention for utilization of plants for Gymnemic acid. Employment of techniques such as cell and tissue culture would provide means of rapid propagation and conservation of the plant species.

Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre; Conservation; rare medicinal plant; GSE-Gymnema sylvestre extrect.

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INTRODUCTION

India is a treasure house of biodiversity in its various ecological conditions, rich ethnic diversity and vast traditional knowledge. The 'World Health Organization' estimates in less developed countries that 75-80% of the people rely-on plant based medicines for primary health care. Diabetes is a silent killer. If uncontrolled, it can lead to deadly complications. The 'diabetes capital of the world' India has 40 million people currently suffering from the disease. In 2025, one in every five Indians will be a diabetic. Sushruta, the classic book on Ayurveda, describes Gymnema sylvestre R Br protolouged Roem & schult. A valuable medicinal plant belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae (APG: Apocynaceae) (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group), as a destroyer of 'Madhumeha' (glycosuria) and other urinary disorders, it has also become popular in western medicine.1-3 It is useful in dyspepsia, constipation, jaundice, haemorrhoids, renal and vesical calculi, cardiopathy, asthma, bronchitis, amenorrhoea, conjuctivitis and leucoderma.4,5 Limitations for Such activities are non-availability of quality planting materials seed, seedlings, root and leaves. It is a very slow growing and high demanding medicinal plant, approx 85% plant material collecting from nature. Propagation by seed germination is very rare, due to the very short span of seeds viability (90 days), drought, insect attack and poor rooting ability of vegetative cuttings. Seeds germinate about 5% in natural condition.6 Due to poor natural reproduction, in-vitro micro propagation is very necessary. The bio-technological approach such as plant tissue culture offers an alternative and variable method for propagation and conservation of this plant. This review discusses is the investigation made by various workers related to its medicinal uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, micro propagation and other aspects considering this plant since years till date.

PLANT DETAILS

Distribution

Gymnema is a woody climbing plant that grows in Malaysia, Srilanka, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, tropical forests of central and southern India and China up to 600m.7 In India, it is found in tropical forest of Andra pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It is also found in Banda, Konkan, Western Ghats, and Deccan extending to the parts of western and northern India.8,9

Viability

Gymnema is propagated naturally by seeds germination only. Natural reproduction takes place by seeds which flow with the air the ground in the beginning of the hot season and germinate in the rainy season. Flowering commences late in the year and mature pods release seeds from early Feb each year. The low moisture content of the seeds at the time of release together with dry environmental conditions and less endosperm result in very low germination and thus the natural regeneration of the species is poor though a single mother plant produces thousands of seeds at a season.10 Therefore, an alternative mode of multiplication should be made available in order to propagate and to conserve genetic stock of this useful plant. Artificial propagation is done by sowing mature green seeds in Mar-April.11 Seedlings are ready for transplanting during the one year; smaller ones may be kept for next year in nursery. The plant is also reproduces root from nodes but the growth is comparatively slow.

Plant description

This plant first noticed by Mr. Edgeworth and property of leaves to appreciate the taste of sugar has been tested in 1887, carefully by Mr D. Hooper. There are 348 genera with about 2,900 species in the family (Asclipiadacial). About 119 species occurs in genera Gymnema, Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. is one of them. About 25 species: tropical or subtropical Asia, S Africa, and Oceania.

Taxonomical classification9

Kingdom- Plantae

Subkingdom- Tracheobionta

Super division -Spermatophyta

Division- Magnoliophyta

Class- Magnoliopsida

Subclass- Asteridae

Order -Gentianales

Family- Asclepiadaceae

Genus- Gymnema R. Br.

Species- sylvestre

Botanical Synonyms

Asclepias geminate Roxb., Periploca sylvestris Retz. (1781) Marsdenia sylvestris (Retz.) P. I. Forster (1995).

Common name

Miracle fruit, gurmar, rams horn, Madhunashini.12

Vernacular names

Sanskrit- Meshashringi, Madhunashini, Hindi- Gurmar, Merasingi, English- Periploca of the woods, Gurmar, Bengali- Mera-singi. Marathi- Kavali, Gujrathi- Dhuleti, Mardashingi, Telugu- Podapatri, bodaparta. Tamil- Adigam, Cherukurinja, Malayalam- Cakkarakkolli, Madhunasini, Urdu- gurmar ..., gurmar booti, gurmar patta. Oriya- meshasringi.13-16

Stem

Green, milky latex, waxy layer, climber, large (185-485µ) and broad (9-25µ), hairy, cylindrical, sparsely lenticellate; young branch lets pubescent, glabrescent. (Figure 1)

Leaves

leaves simple, opposite, petiole 3-12mm; leaf blade obovate to ovate (1.25-2.0 × 0.5-1.25 inch) acuminate, alternate, hairy, dorso- ventral, upper surface often dark green than the lower surface. (Figure 1)

Inflorescences

Umbellate cymes often racemelike, sessile pedunculate, often 2 at a node, axillary and lateral, with bracteoles.

Flowers

Pedicellate, Pedicels long, regular, small, pentamerous, sepals5- polysepalous, petals-5- gamopetalous,, stamens-5, epipetalous, actinomorphic, zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, hypogynous, bracts and bracteoles, Ovaries superior unilocular, locules many ovuled. (Figure 1)

Fruit

follicle, broadly lanceolate in outline, 5-9×ca.2 cm, beak acuminate, Seeds ovate-oblong, ca. 8×4mm; coma silky white, ca. 3.5cm, glabrous, endosperm scanty, embryo straight, cotyledons often large, radicle terete. (Figure 1)

Flowering

April & November.

Fruiting: winter (December- March).12

Chromosome number

2n = 22

PHOTOCHEMISTRY

Leaves extract of Gymnema have lots of phytochemicals, rich medicinal values. G sylvestre leaves contain triterpene saponins belonging to oleanane and dammarene classes. Oleanane saponins are gymnemic acids and gymnemasaponins, while dammarene saponins are gymnemasides.17-19 The gymnemic acids contain several acylated (tiglolyl, methylbutyroyl etc) derivatives of deacylgymnemic acid (DAGA) which is a 3-O-β-glucouronide of gymnemagenin (3β, 16β, 21β, 22α, 23, 28-hexahydroxy-olean-12-ene). The individual gymnemic acids (saponins) include gymnemic acids I-VII, gymnemosides A-F, gymnemasaponins. The presence of gymnemic acids, (+) quercitol, lupeol, (-) amyrin, stigma sterol etc. have been reported from G sylvestre. A new flavonol glycoside namely kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1à4)- alpha- Lrhamnopyranosyl- (1à6)-beta- D-galactopyranoside has also been found in aerial parts of G sylvestre.20-26 Besides this, other plant constituents are flavones, albumin, charbohydrates, inositole, alkaloids, organic acid (5.5%), parabin, calcium oxalate (7.3%), lignin (4.8%), cellulose(22%), anthraquinones, hentri-acontane, pentatriacontane, α and β-chlorophylls, phytin, resins, d-quercitol, tartaric acid, formic acid, butyric acid, lupeol, β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol.27,17 Later, the phytoconstituents of G sylvestre were isolated, and their chemistry and structures were studied and elucidated.27,28,24

MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERISTICS

Powder

Leaves powdered material is slight yellowish green in colour, bitter in taste with pleasant aromatic odour. On microscopic examination, it shows thick walled, uniseriate multicellular trichomes, anomocytic stomata, idioblast with rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, starch grains, remnants of collenchymatous and parenchymatous cells; vessels, tracheids, tracheidal fibres, bast fibres and sieve plates.29-31

Identification Tests

If powder is treated separately with 1 N aqueous NaOH and 50% KOH shows green fluorescence under UV-254 nm and orange colour with 50% HNO3 in daylight. G sylvestre hydro-alcoholic extracts are as given below: The dilute solution suppresses the sweet taste buds; it gives copious foam appearance when shaken with water and on addition of dilute acid, it forms a voluminous precipitate.30,32,33

Purity Test

This test Maximum moisture content should not more than 6%. Total ash content should not more than 12%. Heavy metal content in leaves or leaves extract should not more than 40 ppm and in the final dosage form, it should not more than 10 ppm.29,34

Substitutes and adulterants

It is commonly adulterated with Bitter melon, Cinnamon, Chromium, zinc, biotin, banaba plant and huclkleberry are also reported to be used as adulterant or substitute of Gymnema sylvestre. Mechanisms such as the stimulating or regenerating effect on β cells or extrapancreatic effects are proposed for the hypoglycemic action of these herbs, such as Momordica charantia, Pterocarpus marsupium, and Trigonella foenum greacum, have been reported to be beneficial for treating type 2 diabetes.35

TRADITIONAL USES

The Sushruta describes Gymnema sylvestre, as a destroyer of madhumeha (glycosuria) and other urinary disorders. It might neutralize the excess of sugar present in the body in Diabetes mellitus.36 The drug is also used in the composition of ayurvedic preparations like Ayaskri, Varunadi, Kasaya, Varunadighrtam, Mahakalyanaka-ghrtam.37 It's reported to be bitter, astrigent, acrid, thermogenic, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, digestive, liver tonic emetic, diuretic, stomachic, stimulant, anthelmenthics, laxative, cardiotonic, expectorant, antipyretic and uterine tonic. It is useful in dyspepsia, constipation and jaundice, haemorrhoids, renal and vesicle calculi, cardiopathy, asthma, bronchitis, amenorrhoea, conjunctivitis and leucoderma.38-41

ETHNO BOTANICAL AND MEDICINAL USES

There are over four hundred different tribal and other ethnic groups in India. Each tribal group is having their own tradition, folk language, beliefs and knowledge about the use of natural resources as medicines. The Indian subcontinent has given to the medicinal world, natural remedies such as Ayurveda, Yunani and Siddha. Based on such systems, we can find not only new remedies; but also new lead molecules may be obtained. Most of the drugs from plant sources are secondary metabolites, which have no role in plant metabolism; but are postulated to play a significant role in the plant defense mechanism. However, not much difference is seen in the basic metabolic processes in plants as well as animals.42 Fever is treated with an oral administration of half an ounce to an ounce (one part in 10) of leaves. Swollen glands are treated with an external application of triturated leaves mixed with castor oil. In Sri Lanka, the plant is utilized to cure bone fractures. The jungle Irulas inhabitants (Nagari Hills of the north arcot district, Bombay and Gujarat from India) have the habit of chewing a few green leaves of Gymnem sylvestre in the morning in order to keep their urine clear and to reduce glycosuria. Bourgeois classes of Bombay and Gujarat also chew fresh leaves for the same effect. In Bombay and Madras, 'Vaids' are known to recommend the leaves in the treatment of furunculosis and madhumeha. The juice obtained from root is used to treat vomiting and in dysentery and plant. Paste is applied with mother milk to treat mouth ulcer. Gymnema preparations have shown to possess anti-allergic activity.43 Gymnema sylvestre a plant has Gymnemic acid constituent of the leaves shown to inhibit glucose adsorption in the small intestine. (Shimizu K et al)44 The plant popularly known as "Gurmarin" it is constitute of the leaves, was shown to suppress sweet taste of sensation.45-48 Snakebite is treated by dusting the wound with powdered root, or applying a paste of the root powder to the wound.49,50 The potassium salt of gymnemic acid, which is a triterpenoid glycoside isolated from Gymnema sylvestre inhibits ATPase in, aja aja (Indian cobra) venom and Vipera russelli (viper) venom.51-53 Inhibition occurs due to competitive binding between gymnemate and ATP. The inhibition of organic compounds like histamine, triggering responses to foreign particles shows that these pectic substances have anti-allergic activities.54 Traditional healers from diverse parts of India use this plant in various ailments. The leaves are given in gastric troubles in Rajasthan. Traditional healers of Maharashtra prescribe it in urinary problems. Whereas in Madhya Pradesh Its use as stomach-ache. Tribal's and local healers apply the leaf extract in cornea opacity and other eye disease. In Andhra Pradesh It is used in glycosuria. In eastern Africa pounded leaves are rubbed into scarifications in the side to treat stitch. In Tanzania pounded cooked roots in food are taken to treat epilepsy. In Angola leaf and stem preparations are taken to treat cancer. In Botswana pounded cooked roots or root powder are applied externally to treat boils. In Madagascar an infusion of the leafy twigs is taken to treat gonorrhea.9,29,55 This effect lasts up to about 2 hours; the herb actually reduces cravings for sugar by blocking sugar receptors in the tongue. This effect was observed in rats in a 2003 study conducted by C H Lemon et al. It might neutralize the excess of sugar present in the body in Diabetes mellitus.36

ETHICAL VALUE

The moral basis for conserving our natural resources, the more valuable, medicinally rich and so-glamorous species such as Gymnema sylvestre. Some scientists argue that morality is the most valid reason for our management strategies, obligating us to do everything possible to prevent human-caused extinction everywhere on the planet. For many scientists, in-situ preservation of species is the first commandment of conservation.

ECONOMIC BENEFIT

India is bulk exporter of Gymnema extract and Gymnema leaf powder. India supply it to various traders, manufacturers and distributors of USA, Canada, South Africa, Europe, Middle East, Taiwan, South East Asia countries. The quality of our product meet the requirement of food industry, the product specification meets the requirement of FAO/WHO standard. Big market, an herb from India has enabled diabetics to lower or stop taking insulin; about 1,395 products from 430 stores are available.

DOSAGE

The appropriate dose of Gurmar depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily too safe and dosages can be important. The typical therapeutic dose of an extract, standardized to contain 24-percent gymnemic acids, is 400-600 mg daily. The plant material is also available in the form of capsule or tablets in combination with other herbal plants.56 Adult dose: In liquid form (extract), 25 to 75 ml per week is recommended. Best results of this medicine will come after 6 to 12 months of continuous use. It is also prescribed in tablet form; in this case 8 to 12 g per day of leaf equivalent is recommended. Pediatric dose: In this case, there is insufficient evidence about its uses for pediatric population, so it cannot be recommended for them.57

SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY

Gymnema sylvestre has been regarded as safe when taken in recommended doses. Short termuses of low doses may have unnoticeable side effects.58,59 52-weeks study in wistar rats, with administration of 1.00% basal powder (GSE) in the diet have not shown any toxic effects as, none of the animals died during this period.60 It has been reported to cause toxic hepatitis or Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) in patients who have been treated with this herb for diabetes mellitus.61 A study with D-400 having Gurmar as one of its major components has shown no adverse effects on rats. This shows the lack of teratogenicity of the extract.55 The plant has shown to increase the effectiveness of diabetic medications.41 It might also show side effects if you are taking it with other herbs such as Aloe Vera, Devil's Claw.62

PRECAUTIONS AND WARNING

Not enough is known about the safety of using Gymnema during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. It can affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use it. Its might affect blood glucose levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using It at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.59

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES

The first scientific confirmation of G sylvestre use in human diabetics came almost a century back when it was demonstrated that the leaves of G sylvestre reduce urine glucose in diabetics.63 In an animal study, Paliwal et al have investigated that Gurmar leaf powder had positive and encouraging effects over blood glucose levels. No adverse effect was observed on the health status of the subjects and thus, it can thus be concluded that its powder effective in lowering the fasting as well as postprandial blood glucose levels.15

Leaves of G sylvestre are widely used for the treatment of diabetes and as a diuretic in Indian proprietary medicines and in most of herbal drug market of the country, leaves are being sold along with the aerial parts as Gurmarbuti.29 It has shown promising results as an anti-diabetic agent. Numerous animals' model studies have confirmed its hypoglycemic effect.64-66 The LD50 of ethanolic and water extract of G sylvestre administered intraperitoneally in mice was found to be 375 mg/kg.67 In an acute toxicity study in mice, no gross behavioral, neurologic, or autonomic effects were observed. The safety ratio (LD50/ED50) was 11 and 16 in normal and diabetic rats, respectively.68

The aqueous extract of GSE when administered at a dose concentration of 800mg/Kg has shown a drastic decrease (p<0.05) in the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum triglyceride and serum cholesterol (Reduced by 46%) content in both normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Besides, a potent elevation in the level of serum HDL cholesterol has been observed. This increase may be useful leading to the negative correlation between HDL-cholesterol levels and cardiovascular diseases.69 The anti-diabetic active constituents have been identified majorly as gymnemic acids and their glycosides. The isolated saponin, 21 beta-O-benzoylsitakisogenin 3-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl (1à3) -beta-D-glucuronopyranoside and the sodium salt of alternoside II have exhibited anti-sweet activity.70-72 Crystalline compounds, gymnemagenin and gymnestrogenin have been isolated from GSE.73 Gurmarin has shown to suppress responses of the chorda tympani nerve to sweet substances in C57BL mice.74 GS3 and GS4, obtained from the aqueous extract of GSE, have shown to double the number of islet and beta cells in STZ treated rats. These compounds tend to attain blood glucose homeostasis by increasing serum insulin levels through repair/ regeneration of the endocrine pancreas.75 GS4 has shown significant results in patients with Type 2 diabetics.

The GS4 administration, have shown a substantial reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins. Five of the 22 diabetic patients have discontinued their conventional drug and maintained their blood glucose homeostasis with GS4 alone. The raised insulin levels in the serum of the patients supports that β cells may have regenerated/repaired.76 Another compound Dihydroxy gymnemic triacetate, isolated from GSE when administered with a dosage of 20mg have shown to possess hypoglycemic activity in STZ induced diabetic rats.77 It also inhibits the peripheral utilization of glucose by somatotropin and corticotrophin, also inhibiting epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia.78 A standardized G sylvestre extract in combination with niacin-bound chromium and hydroxycitric acid has been evaluated for antiobesity activity by monitoring changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), appetite, lipid profiles, serum leptin and excretion of urinary fat metabolites. This study showed that the combination of Gymnema Sylvestre extract and hydroxycitric acid, niacin bound chromium can serve as an effective and safe weight loss formula that can facilitate a reduction in excess body weight and BMI while promoting healthy blood lipid levels.79 Moreover, Sugihar et al have investigated the antihyperglycemic action of a crude saponin fraction and five triterpene glycosides derived from the methanol extracts of G sylvestre.80 Gymnema sylvestre has been reported for its antieurodontic effect. It is used as cariostatic food.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Antibacterial activity: Chloroform and Ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial parts of G sylvestre also reported to have antibacterial effects against P vulgaris, E coli, P aeroginosa, Klebsella pneumoniae and S aureus.81 The ethanolic extract of G sylvestre leaves showed good antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pumilis, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and no activity was found against Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli.82 Potential activity has been shown by hydro alcoholic (Water-Ethanol 1:1) Gymnema extract against gram positive bacteria viz: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus even at minimum concentrations of 50µg/ml.83

Pathogenic activity: Aqueous extract has shown a moderate activity against three pathogenic Salmonella species like Salmonella typhi, S.typhimurium and S paratyphi.84 The aqueous and methanolic extract of G sylvestre leaves also showed moderate activity against the three pathogenic Salmonella species, Out of the two extracts used Ethanolic, aqueous extract showed higher activity against the Salmonella species.84

Anti-parasitic activity: The methanol extract of Gymnema has shown an IC (50) of 24 µg/mL against the CQ resistant INDO strain of P falciparum.85 It has shown potential Lesihmanicidal property 4 Gymnemagenol, a saponin isolated from Gymnema extract has shown leishmanicidal activity with an IC50 value of 965µg/ml and has reduced the parasitic population by 52%.86

Anti-larvicidal activity: Aqueous extract of Gurmar have been shown to be significantly effective in controlling Culex larvae. 44, 58, 76, 83 and 89% mortality of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae has been observed with the concentrations of 1,2,3,4 and 5 ppm respectively after 24 hours on testing with the aqueous extract of Gymnema.87 The crude Gymnema extract has shown a potential larvicidal activity with highest mortality in the concentration of 1,000 ppm against the larvae of A.subpictus (LC (50) = 166.28 ppm, r (2) = 0.807) and against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus (LC (50) = 186.55 ppm, r (2) = 0.884), respectively.86

Anti-viral activity: The Gymnema sylvestre extracts (Gymnemic acid A, B, C and D and gymnemagenol) have shown to possess potent anti-viral activity against Influenza virus and Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus (GNNV) tested for mice. Gymnemic acid A (75 mg/kg/day) has shown the maximum activity and moderate inhibition was shown by Gymnemic acid B, While, Gymnemic acid C and D have not found to effect the growth of influenza virus.86,88

Adverse effects: No significant adverse effects compared to controls were mentioned and no mortality was reported, except in studies with supplements containing ephedrine and caffeine. Bofutsushosan caused minor adverse effects such as dry mouth, insomnia, nervousness, palpitation and headache loose bowel movements.

MICRO PROPAGATION

Micropropagtion throught apical bud: In-vitro propagation of Gymnema sylvestre has been achieved by Bharti Sharma and Y K Bansal89 by using apical bud obtained multiple soots were growing on MS with BAP +KN. This multiple soot when Sub-cultured on Half strength MS with IAA number of Shoots were rooted and 85 % of rooted shoots survived in the field. Cost mass multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre has been reported by R Kartic and S Seshadri.90 They studied a plastic tub, with polyethylene cover, containing 1/10 strength of MS salts supplemented with Indole butyric acid (IBA) at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.5 mg/L), highest rooting produced (66%) with 96% survival on MS containing 0.5mg/L of IBA.

Micro propagation of gymnema through seed: Micro propagation of Gymnema sylvestre has reported by C Subathra Devi and V Mohana Srinivasan91, on MS medium supplemented with IAA, BA, 2,4-D and kinetin on shoot sprouting from seedling explants. About 53% shoots were rooted on MS half medium within 45 days. In-vitro seed germination also reported by A V Jaybhaya and S S Deokule.92 The whole plant regeneration on MS salts with various combinations of auxins and cytokininsare used, about 78% seed germination was achieved on MS within 12 days with a good length of shoot and a number of roots. Gymnema is in-vitro propagated from seed by Reddy P S et al.6 MS medium containing different combination of BAP or KI with naphthaleneacetic acid was inoculated number of soots (7 per explants). In-vitro multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre thought seedling has been achieved by N Komalavalli and M V Rao93, Amaximum number of soots (57.2) were induced on MS medium containing BAP+ KI+ NAA+ malt extract and citric acid. Rooting was observed in axillaries node explants derived 50% shoots on MS half.

Callus Culture: Indian medicinal plant Gymnema sylvestre increased recently due to the pharmaceutical potential of Gymnemic acids for the treatment of Diabetes, found in its leaves. The study developed a novel cell culture system for in-vitro growth and production of Gymnemic acid, Leaf explants growth in MS supplemented with IAA and BA gave maximum percentage callus formation, obtained by C Subathra Devi et al.94 Combination of external phytohormone, shaking speeds, pH of the medium, played important roles in growth and Gymnemic acid production in suspension cell cultures. The suspension cell culture is also reported by Abdul Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed et al.95 on MS medium with growth regulators (2,4-D or NAA) and coconut water.

CONCLUSION

According to literature the plant has extremely large medicinal, Immemorial, Ethno botanical, traditional uses & economic uses in different systems of Medicine not India but also throughout the world. The wide varieties of compounds isolated from this plant have extensive range of pharmacological activities which need to be researched in depth to establish their therapeutic potential. This broad range of uses and medicinal values reflects about the idea that, in future, pharmaceutical & drug manufacturing sector mainly relies on plants to obtain lifesaving therapeutics and drugs. Though it has such medicinal & economic property it is now rarely available and has been categorized as a rare plant could be unawareness about its uses in general public as well as its difficulty in natural reproduction. So different methods like tissue culture techniques play an important of its conservation & propagation should be adapted so as to prevent its extinct.

References

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