title: C-4 gem-dimethylated oleanes of Gymnema sylvestre and their pharmacological activities.
abstract: Gymnema sylvestre R. Br., one of the most important medicinal plants of the Asclepiadaceae family, is a herb distributed throughout the World, predominantly in tropical countries. The plant, widely used for the treatment of diabetes and as a diuretic in Indian proprietary medicines, possesses beneficial digestive, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and anti-helmentic effects. Furthermore, it is believed to be useful in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation, jaundice, hemorrhoids, cardiopathy, asthma, bronchitis and leucoderma. A literature survey revealed that some other notable pharmacological activities of the plant such as anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties have been proven too. This paper aims to summarize the chemical and pharmacological reports on a large group of C-4 gem-dimethylated pentacyclic triterpenoids from Gymnema sylvestre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, Napoli 80126, Italy. zarrelli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Fabio
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romanucci
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarrelli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D031104:Gymnema sylvestre / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009828:Oleanolic Acid