Tinctura gynostemmae Jiaogulan tincture 30ml (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is known as jiaogulan in China. Jiaogulan belongs to the genus Gynostemma, in the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes cucumbers, gourds, and melons. Its fruit is a small purple inedible gourd. It is a climbing vine, attaching itself to supports using tendrils. The serrated leaflets commonly grow in groups of five (as in G. pentaphyllum) although some species can have groups of three or seven leaflets. The plant is dioecious, meaning each plant exists either as male or female. 

The plant was first described in 1406 CE by Zhu Xiao, who presented a description and sketch in the book Materia Medica for Famine as a survival food rather than a medicinal herb. The earliest record of jiaogulan's use as a drug comes from herbalist Li Shizhen's book Compendium of Materia Medica published in 1578, identifying jiaogulan for treating various ailments such as hematuria, edema in the pharynx and neck, tumors, and trauma. While Li Shizhen had confused jiaogulan with an analogous herb Wulianmei, in 1848 Wu Qi-Jun rectified this confusion in Textual Investigation of Herbal Plants.

Supreme health benefits of Jiaogulan

In China Jiaogulan is referred to as the immortality herb. Many modern scientific studies are now confirming this ancient wisdom. Studies have shown the mechanism that promotes longevity (autophagy). Studies have also shown Jiaogulan to have a range of effectiveness with regards to treating chronic disorders such as asthma, migraines, neuralgia impaired respiratory function and impaired gastrointestinal function characterised by deficiency with nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and chest congestion, gastric and duodenal ulcers, hyperlipidemia, nodules, cystitis, herpes zoster, cancers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. It is difficult to account for all the conditions Jiaogulan is used to treat because of the many indirect pathways of biological activity. In traditional Chinese medicine, Jiaogulan has a slightly cool property and is regarded as a tonic herb with incredible healing properties. It works on the Spleen, Lung, Kidney, Liver and Heart meridians.

Jiaogulan is not a miracle panacea to all ills and disease however it certainly comes close. Of all botanical plants from Asia and Europe, Jiaogulan stands out as being one of the most powerful ways to restore health and or maintain health;

• Enhances cardiovascular function

• Promotes longevity

• Brings back stamina and vitality

• Prevets stress, anti-stress

• Lowers cholesterol

• Prevents heart-attack and stroke

• Strengthness Immunity

• Anti-cancer

• Can help in treatment of bronchitis

• Reduces symptoms of chemo-therapy 

• Helps manage diabetes

• Assists in treating asthma symptoms

• May treat migraines and depression

Precious compounds of Jiaogulan

Plant constituents primarily include sterols, acetylenic sterols, and triterpenols. The phenolic, saponin, and flavonoid composition is known to vary both geographically and by genotype. A large number of dammarane (triterpene) saponins, called gypenosides, have been elucidated from the plant leaves. Initial work on the gypenosides was undertaken primarily by 1 group of researchers, but constituents continue to be further described. Several of these saponins are identical to those found in ginseng, and the content is comparable with that of ginseng roots. However, wide variation in the amount and nature of gypenosides has made standardization of specific gypenosides problematic. Most current products are standardized on total saponin content. High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods have been described to identify chemical constituents.

Although Jiaogulan contains ginseng-like saponins, it has not been reported to contain the other types of biologically active compounds, acetylenes, and polysaccharides found in ginseng. Thus, while ginseng pharmacology presents a reasonable starting point for investigation, Jiaogulan cannot be considered as pharmacologically identical.