Author(s):

Dipak Sharma, AR Sawate, BM Patil and RB Kshirsagar

Abstract:
Gymnema sylvestre is a reputed herb in the ayurvedic system of medicine. The herb exhibits a broad range of therapeutic effects as an effective natural remedy for diabetes. The mandate of current study was to explore the nutritional and anti diabetic worth of Gymnema sylvestre because of its easily availability and mostly use. The fresh Gymnema sylvestre leaves were green in colour and elliptical in shape. The average weight, length and width of leaves were 0.157, 4.46 and 2.56 respectively. The physico-chemical characteristics of Gymnema sylvestre powder like bulk density (g/ml), tapped density (g/ml), Carr's index, Hausner’s ratio, pH 1% solution, acid insoluble ash (%), water soluble ash (%), water-soluble and alcohol soluble extractive values (%) were 0.43, 0.54, 20.37, 1.255, 6.93, 1.95, 2.60, 17.23 and 4.57 respectively. The proximate composition of Gymnema sylvestre powder like moisture, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, total ash and total carbohydrate contents were 7.38, 5.80, 10.94, 11.50, 9.49 and 54.89 per cent respectively. The minerals calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, copper and iron were analyzed from Gymnema sylvestre powder, the concentration of these minerals were 1542.63, 592.40, 2.70, 21.80, 12.71 and 36.91 (mg/100g) respectively. Gymnema sylvestre liquid extract had a brownish green colour, no specific odour and bitter in taste while dried extract was brown in colour and also bitter in taste. The physico-chemical characteristics of Gymnema sylvestre dried ethanolic extract like pH 1% solution, saponin test, foaming index, ash content (%), water soluble fraction (%), water-insoluble fraction (%) and gymnemic acid content (%) were 6.8, positive, less than 100, 1.90, 65, 35 and 8.00 respectively.

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