来源于萝藦科匙羹藤属植物匙羹藤Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.)Schult.的根或嫩枝叶。

 　　木质藤本。全株具乳汁；茎皮灰褐色，具皮孔，幼枝被微毛。叶对生；被短柔毛先端具丛生腺体；叶片倒卵形或卵状长圆形，长3～8cm，宽1.5～4cm，仅叶脉被微毛；侧脉4～5对，弯拱上升。聚伞花序伞形状，腋生；花序硬和花梗被短柔毛；花萼片5，裂片被缘毛，内面基部有5个腺体；花冠略向右覆盖；副花冠着土于花冠裂片弯缺下，厚而成硬茶带；雄蕊5，着生于花冠筒的基部；花药先端具膜片；花粉块每室1个，长椭圆形，直立：柱头伸出花药之外。蓇葖果羊角状，先端渐尖，基部膨大。种子卵圆形，先端轮生白色绢质种毛。

　　根圆柱形，直径1～3cm，常切成2～5mm厚的斜片；外表面灰棕色，较粗糙，具裂纹及皮孔；切断面黄色，木部有细密的小孔，形成层环波状弯曲，髓部疏松，淡棕色。茎类圆柱形，灰褐色，具皮孔被微毛。叶对生，多皱缩，完整者展平后呈倒卵形或卵状长圆形，长3～8cm，宽1.5～4cm，仅叶脉被微毛；嫩、枯叶均具乳汁。叶柄长3～10mm，被短毛。气微，味苦。

生长于山坡林中或灌木丛中。

其叶含有三萜类成分：匙羹藤酸I-XⅧ^[1]、A^[2，4]，匙羹藤总苷a，b，c，d，e，f^[5-7]，gymnemasins A，B，C，D^[8]，冲绳黑鳗藤皂苷元，齐墩果酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷，3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基齐墩果酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷^[9]，龙吉苷元-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸苷，21β-苯甲酰基冲绳黑鳗藤皂苷元3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸苷，3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基[(1-6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖]齐墩果酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷，齐墩果酸-3-O-β-D-吡喃木糖基[(1-6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖](1-6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷，3-O-β-D-吡喃木糖基[(1-6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖] 齐墩果酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷，3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基[(1-6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖]齐墩果酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖(1-6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷^[10]，21β-苯甲酰基冲绳黑鳗藤皂苷元3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基(1-3)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸苷，龙吉苷元-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖(1-3)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸钾，29-羟基龙吉苷元-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖(1-3)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸钾^[11]；黄酮类成分：山奈酚-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基(1-4)-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖(1-6)-β-D-半乳糖苷，槲皮素-3-O-6''-(3-羟基-3-甲基)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷^[12]；多肽：gurmarin^[13]。

1.降血糖作用。其叶提取物（主要含匙羹藤酸）通过抑制肠道对葡萄糖的摄取来抑制豚鼠和大鼠的血糖升高^[1]。在体外，其醇提取通过提高细胞膜的通透性，从而促进胰岛素从胰腺β细胞HIT- T15，MIN6和 RINm5F释放^[2]。该药皂甙部分对由链脲佐菌素诱发腹腔高血糖的小鼠，能帮助其降低血糖水平。匙羹藤酸Ⅳ具有与格列本脲同等的药效，在高剂量下，能增加血清胰岛素水平，但不影响正常小鼠的血糖水平。匙羹藤酸Ⅳ是降血糖的主要活性成分^[3]。其叶水提取物能显着降低离体大鼠偏侧膈的糖原水平^[4]。此外，叶提取物还能降低小鼠由皮质类固醇引起的高血糖^[5-6]。

2.降血脂作用。匙羹藤酸能提高胆固醇和胆汁酸在大鼠体内的排泄水平^[7]。其叶50%乙醇提取物口服可抑制高脂血症大鼠体重的增加和肝脏脂肪的堆积。其作用机制是由于提取物增加了酸性和中性胆固醇的排泄能力，降低了血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯的水平，增强卵磷脂酰基转移酶在血液中的活动^[8-9]。

3.对味觉的影响。其叶提取物能非竞争抑制8种甜味剂，包括阿斯巴甜，甜菊糖，蔗糖和葡萄糖。从其叶中提取的武靴藤多肽具有不可逆转的抑制小鼠敏感受体45-75％的甜的味觉^[10]。但是，它对氯化钠，盐酸，盐酸奎宁和其它氨基酸的味觉没有抑制作用^[11]。

具祛风凉血，消肿止痛，健胃利尿之功效。用于风湿关节痛、风寒湿痹、痈疖肿毒，毒蛇咬伤等。

1.痈，疽，疔：匙羹藤根30g，银花15g。水煎服。

2.无名肿毒，湿疹：匙羹藤根30g，土茯苓15g。水煎服。（均出自《福建药物志》）

以80g/kgGS药材的水提物给大鼠一次灌胃,观察2周,未见毒性反应发生。以GA4mg/d给大鼠连续灌胃12周,大鼠体重、摄食量、饮水量、空腹血糖、血清胆固醇均未见异常^[1]。

化学成分:

[1]王英,叶文才,刘欣,范春林,赵守训.匙羹藤中三萜皂苷类成分及其药理活性.国外医药(植物药分册). 2003,18(4):146-151

[2]韦宝伟,施骞.匙羹藤的研究概况. 国外医药(植物药分册).1996,11(3):107-111

[3]HM Liu,F Kiuchi,Y Tsuda.Isolation and structure elucidation of gymnemicacids,anti-sweet principles of Gymnemasylvestre.Chemical &pharmaceutical Bulletin.1992,40(6):1366-1375

[4]王英,冯易君,王晓玲,许辉川.匙羹藤叶中一种新成分的分离和鉴定.华西药学杂志.2004,19(5):336-338

[5]N Murakami,T Murakami,M Kadoya,H Matsuda,J Yamahara,M Yoshikawa.New hypoglycemic constituents in “gymnemic acid” from Gymnema　sylvetre.Chemical & pharmaceuticalBulletin.1996,44(2):469-471

[6]M Yoshikawa,T Murakami, M Kadoya,Y Li,N Murakami,J Yamahara,HMatsuda.Medicinal foodstuffs.Ⅸ.The inhibitors of glucoseansorption from the leaves of Gymnemasylvetre R.BR.(Asclepiadaceae):structures of gymnemosides a and b.Chemical & pharmaceutical Bulletin.1997,45(10):1671-1676

[7]M Yoshikawa,T Murakami,H Matsuda.Medicinal foodstuffs.Ⅹ.Structures of new triterpene glycosides,gymnemosides-c,-d,-e,and -f,fromthe leaves of Gymnema sylvestreR.Br.:influence of gymnema glycosides on glucose uptake in rat small intestinalfragments. Chemical & pharmaceuticalBulletin.1997,45(12):2034-2038

[8]NP Sahu,SB Mahato,SK Sarkar,G Poddar.Triterpenoid saponins from Gymnema sylvestre.Phytochemistry.1996,41(4):1181-1185

[9]刘欣,叶文才,徐德然,张庆文,车镇涛,赵守训.匙羹藤的三萜和皂甙成分研究.中国药科大学学报.1999,30(3):174-176 

[10]WC Ye,QW Zhang,X Liu,CT Che,SX Zhao.Oleanane saponins from Gymnema sylvestre.Phytochemistry.2000,53(8):893-899

[11]WC Ye,X Liu,QW Zhang,CT Che,SX Zhao.Anti-sweet saponins from Gymnema sylvestre.Journal of Natural Products.2001,64(2):232-235

[12]X Liu,WC Ye,B Yu,SX Zhao,H Wu,CT Che.Two new flavonol glycosides fromGymnema sylvestre and Euphorbia ebractrolata.Carbohydrate Research.2004,339(4):891-895

[13]K Kamei,R Takano, A Miyasaka,T Imoto,S Hara.Amino acid sequence ofsweet-taste-suppressing peptide (gurmarin) from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre.Journal of Biochemistry.1992,111(1):109-112

药理作用:

[1]K Shimizu,A Iino,J Nakajima,K Tanaka,S Nakajyo,N Urakawa,M Atsuchi,TWada,C Yamashita.Suppression of glucose absorption by some fractions extractedfrom Gymnema sylvestr leaves.The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science.1997,59(4):245-251

[2]SJ Persaud,H Al-Majed,A Raman,PM Jones. Gymnema sylvestr stimulates insulin release in vitro by increasedmembrane permeability.The Journal of Endocrinology.1999,163(2):207-212

[3]Y Sugihara,H Nojima,H Matsuda,T Murakami,M Yoshikawa,IKimura.Anti-hyperglycemic effects of gymnemic acid Ⅳ,a compound derived from Gymnemasylvestr leaves in streptozotocin-diabetic mice.Journal of Asian Natural Products Research.2000,2(4):321-327

[4]RR Chattopadhyay.Possible mechanism of anti-hyperglycemic effect of Gymnema sylvestr leaf extract,partⅠ.General Pharmacology.1998,31(3):495-496

[5]S Gholap,A Kar.Effects of Inularacemosa root and Gymnema sylvestr leaf extracts in theregulation of corticosteroid induced diabetes mellitus:involvement of thyroidhormones.Die Pharmazie.2003,58(6):413-415

[6]S Gholap,A Kar.Hypoglycaemic effects of some plant extracts arepossibly mediated through inhibition in corticosteroid concentration.Die pharmazie.2004,59(11):876-878

[7]Y Nakamura,Y Tsumura,Y Tonogai,T Shibata.Fecal steroid excretion isincreased in rats by oral administration of gymnemic acids contained in Gymnema sylvestr leaves.The Journal ofNutrition.1999,129(6):1214-1222

[8]N Shigematsu,R Asano,M Shimosaka,M Okazaki.Effect of longterm-administration with Gymnema sylvestrR.BR on plasma and liver lipid in rats.Biological& Pharmaceutial Bulletin.2001,24(6):643-649

[9]N Shigematsu, R Asano, M Shimosaka, M Okazaki. Effect of administration with theextract of Gymnema sylvestr R.Brleaves on lipid metabolism in rats.Biological & Pharmaceutial Bulletin.2001,24(6):713-717

[10]Y Ninomiya,T Imoto.Gurmarin inhibition of sweet taste responses inmice.The American Journal of Physiology.1995,268(4 Pt 2):R1019-1025

[11]S Harada,Y Kasahara.Inhibitory effect of gurmarin on palatal tasteresponses to amino acids in the rat.AmericanJournal of Physiology.Regulatory,Integrative and Comparative Physiology.2000,278(6):R1513-1517

[12]LF Wang,H Luo,M Miyoshi,T Imoto,Y Hiji,T Sasaki.Inhibitory effect ofgymnemic acid on intrstinal absorption of oleic acid in rats.Canadian Journal of Physiology andPharmacology.1998,76(10-11):1017-1023

[13]RK Satdive,P Abhilash,DP Fulzele.Anti-microbial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract.Fitoterapia.2003,74(7-8):699-701

临床试验:

[1]方铄英.匙羹藤内服治疗Ⅰ,Ⅱ期内痔出血60例.中国社区医师.2008,10(12):79

毒理学:

[1]Yoshik aw a. St ructure studies of new an-ti sweet constituents from Gymnema s ylves t re[ J ] Tet rah edron Let t er, 1989, 37( 3):1103.