Gymnema sylvestre (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

Protologue: Roemer & Schultes, Syst. veg. 6: 57 (1820).

Synonyms

Gymnema affine Decne. (1844), Gymnema alterniflorum (Lour.) Merr. (1935), Marsdenia sylvestris (Retz.) P.I. Forster (1995).

Distribution

Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, southern China, Japan (Ryukyu Islands); there are unconfirmed reports for Malesia: Malaysia, Indonesia.

Uses

In China, all parts of the plant (but particularly the roots) are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, gout, inflammation of the blood vessels, oedema, fever, haemorrhoids and snakebites. The leaves are applied in India to treat diabetes and cough, as a stomachic and diuretic, and the plant is also used to induce abortion. In eastern Africa, pounded and cooked roots are administered internally to treat epilepsy and snakebites and externally to treat boils.

Observations

A liana up to 8 m long; leaves obovate to ovate or oblong-elliptical, 3-9 cm × 1.5-5.5 cm, petiole 0.3-1.2 cm long; corolla glabrous, greenish-white or cream-coloured, appendages exserted; follicle 4.5-9 cm × 2 cm, glabrous, with acuminate beak. G. sylvestre occurs in open forest and scrub vegetation.

Selected sources

89, 120, 121, 656, 755, 777, 846, 1013, 1038, 1039.

Main genus page

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Authors

R.H.M.J. Lemmens