(Apocynaceae) Gymnema sylvestre  (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm.

Local name(s): ເຄືອ ຂົມ ຟືນ (kheua khom fuen) 

Medicinal use(s): treat diabetes 

Part(s) used: Vine and leaf

Field Characters: Liana, flowers light yellow, stamens purple. 

Locality: Khammouane Province, Nyommalat District, at the eastern flank of the Nakai Nan Theum National Park, at Pou Ak Mountain. GPS reading: 17o 58’ N; 105o 48’ E.

Habitat: Secondary forest along the road. 

Altitude: 204 m asl. 

Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, M. Xayvue, M. Vanthanuvong  

Collection number(s): DDS 15485

Collection Date: May 29, 2023

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. xxxxxx.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol.xvi Page 238GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Useful references:


Khan, F., Rahman Sarker, M. M., Ming et al. Comprehensive review on phytochemicals, harmacological and clinical potentials of Gymnema sylvestre. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2019, 10:223. Published online 2019 Oct 29. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01223


Tiwari P, Mishra BN, Sangwan NS. Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Gymnema sylvestre: an important medicinal plant. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:830285. doi: 10.1155/2014/830285. Epub 2014 Jan 6. PMID: 24511547; PMCID: PMC3912882. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/830285