Suppression of sweet sensitivity by potassium gymnemate

Abstract

The leaves of Gymnema sylvestre, when chewed, temporarily depress sensitivity to sweet and bitter substances. The active principle, potassium gymnemate, was isolated and shown to have quantitatively equal effects on the sweet taste of threshold and suprathreshold concentrations of sucrose and sodium saccharin. The possible mechanisms of action are discussed. Submitted on December 10, 1956