Ahalya Segarajah

Study on Medicinal herb, Gymnema sylvestre R.Br Ahalya Segarajah

This study was aimed to assess the importance of G. sylvestre, identify the associated Arthropod fauna and investigate its insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. A survey on diabetic patients revealed the importance of G. sylvestre and survey on growers revealed the agronomic practices. The arthropods associated with G. sylvestre were studied and 21 different fauna were identified. Seven different formulations of G. sylvestre leaves were studied for their insecticidal effects on the stored product pests Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae. All the tested extracts caused significant mortality. In vitro antibacterial studies on the aqueous extracts of G. sylvestre leaf powder (1:5) and gymnemagenin (1:10) revealed that the extracts showed good inhibitory activity against all the tested medically important bacterial strains. These findings are much useful to guide the consumers of G. sylvestre from consuming pests and their excreta together with leaves. Further the insecticidal and antibacterial properties of G. sylvestre would be much helpful for the effective use of this medicinal herb in Medicine and Agriculture.