Abstract
Gymnema sylvestre R. Br., one of the most important medicinal plants of the Asclepiadaceae family, is a herb distributed throughout the World, predominantly in tropical countries. The plant, widely used for the treatment of diabetes and as a diuretic in Indian proprietary medicines, possesses beneficial digestive, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and anti-helmentic effects. Furthermore, it is believed to be useful in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation, jaundice, hemorrhoids, cardiopathy, asthma, bronchitis and leucoderma. A literature survey revealed that some other notable pharmacological activities of the plant such as anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties have been proven too. This paper aims to summarize the chemical and pharmacological reports on a large group of C-4 gem-dimethylated pentacyclic triterpenoids from Gymnema sylvestre.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
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Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
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Antioxidants / chemistry
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Antioxidants / pharmacology
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Antiparasitic Agents / chemistry
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Antiparasitic Agents / pharmacology
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Gymnema sylvestre / chemistry*
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Gymnema sylvestre / classification
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Hemolysis / drug effects
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Humans
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Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
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Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
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Hypolipidemic Agents / chemistry
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Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology
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Molecular Structure
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Oleanolic Acid / chemistry*
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Oleanolic Acid / pharmacology*
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Oleanolic Acid / toxicity
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Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
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Taste / drug effects
Substances
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Anti-Infective Agents
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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Antioxidants
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Antiparasitic Agents
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Hypoglycemic Agents
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Hypolipidemic Agents
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Oleanolic Acid