Modhunasini or Gurmar, Gymnema sylvestre

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Modhunasini or Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre, family: Apocynaceae) is a woody and twining climber, covering with dense and yellow-colored hairs in young shoots and branches. The extensive plant is usually found covring the bushes or climbing a large tree in the forest, specially in the monsoon forests. 

Other names: Ajaballi, Ajaghandini, karnika, Mesh-shringi.


It is originated in India. It is also found in Sri Lanka and South Africa too. In Bangladesh it can be seen in medicinal gardens and botanical gardens.


Tomentose leaves are ovate-elliptic, opposite, cordate at base, tip pointed, 3-6 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, petioled.


Flowers are axillary, yellowish, tiny, campanulate, fleshy, 4 mm in diameter, peduncled. Flowering occurs in the rainy season. Fruits are slender, knife-shaped, dehiscent, 3-9 cm long. The plant is propagated by seeds, air layering and cuttings


The whole plant is full of medicinal properties. It is used in jaundice, piles, cough, asthma, bronchitis, heart diseses etc. Leaf juice plays a beneficial role in diabetes. It is used to remove the bitter taste also. Crushed leaves are also used in snake and insect bites.

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