C-4 Gem-Dimethylated Oleanes of Gymnema sylvestre and Their Pharmacological Activities
Authors
Giovanni Fabio
Department of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, Napoli 80126, Italy; E-Mails: [email protected] (G.D.F.); [email protected] (V.R.)
Valeria Romanucci
Department of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, Napoli 80126, Italy; E-Mails: [email protected] (G.D.F.); [email protected] (V.R.)
Mauro Zarrelli
IMCB-Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials CNR–National Research Council P E Fermi, (Granatello) Portici, Napoli 80055, Italy; E-Mails: [email protected] (M.Z.); [email protected] (M.G.)
Michele Giordano
IMCB-Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials CNR–National Research Council P E Fermi, (Granatello) Portici, Napoli 80055, Italy; E-Mails: [email protected] (M.Z.); [email protected] (M.G.)
Armando Zarrelli
Department of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia 4, Napoli 80126, Italy; E-Mails: [email protected] (G.D.F.); [email protected] (V.R.)
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.
Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre, triterpenoids, oleanes, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry
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