Gymnema sylvestre is an herb found in the tropical forests of India. The leaves of the plant are used to make the extract. The Hindi name "gurmar" means "destroyer of sugar."

Chewing the leaves suppresses the sensation of sweet. This effect is attributed to the presence of the eponymously named Gymnemic acids. Gymnema contains substances that decrease the absorption of sugar from the intestine. Gymnema may also increase the amount of insulin in the body and increase the growth of cells in the pancreas, which is the place in the body where insulin is made and blood sugar level is reduced in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The leaves are used to make medicine.

Gymnema has a long history of use in India’s Ayurvedic medicine. Evidence suggests gymnema can reduce cravings for sweets, sugar absorption during digestion and promote normal blood sugar levels. Gymnema is used for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, weight loss and cough. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout have also been treated effectively using Gymnema sylvestre extract. The active ingredients present in the extract will build up in the system and produce a summative and cumulative effect.

Gymnema sylvestre Extracts also used for malaria and as a snake bite antidote, digestive stimulant, laxative, appetite suppressant and diuretic. Sport players who struggle to avoid excess carbohydrates also intake gymnema with loaded chromium. Another boon of Gymnema Extract is that it lowers cholesterol by balancing triglycerides.