779. Gymnema sylvestre, Br. H.F.B.I., IV. 29.
Syn. :—Asclepias geminata, Roxb. 256.
Sans. :—Mesha-sringi.
Vern. :—Mera-singi (H. and B.) ; Gurmar (H.) Kávali, wákandi (Bomb.) ; Shiru-kurunja (Tam.) ; Poda-patra, putla-podra (Tel.) ; Parpatrah (Dec.) ; Chhota-dudhi-latâ (B.).
Uses :—The root is in esteem amongst the Hindus as a local and internal remedy in snake-bites (Ainslie). The root is also said to possess emetic and expectorant properties.
In the Concan, the dried and powdered leaf is used as an errhine (Dymock).
A curious circumstance connected with this plant was first noticed by Mr. Edgeworth ; namely, that if chewed, it destroys the power of the tongue to appreciate the state of sugar and all saccharine substances. In his own person he found that powdered sugar, taken immediately after masticating some of the leaves, appeared like so much sand in his mouth, and this effect lasted nearly twenty-four hours, when he recovered the power of distinguishing the taste of sugar (Pharm. Journ., vol. vii., p. 551).
Mr. Hooper repeated the above experiment and states that, after chewing one or two leaves, it was proved undoubtedly that sugar had no taste immediately afterwards. He also further discovered that the leaf had the valuable property of completely removing the bitter taste of sulphate of quinine after a good dose of the leaf, tasting like so much chalk.
Though of opinion that this property might prove of value in pharmacy for the purpose of destroying the taste of quinine, he writes, “I am not going to propose its use in the administration of nauseous drugs, until the properties of the gymnema have been more studied. Otherwise, the quantity of the vehicle taken may be proved to counteract the effect of the medicines.”
The habitat line, the botanical description, and the small-type chemical analysis after the uses (pp. 824–825) are not transcribed. Words hyphenated across a line break are joined.