Herb: Jiaogulan According to Pubmed. Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Disease, Stress, and more.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynostemma_pentaphyllum
 
Gynostemma pentaphyllum, also called jiaogulan (Chinese: ???; pinyin: jiaogulán, literally “twisting-vine orchid”[1]) is a dioecious, herbaceous climbing vine of the family Cucurbitaceae (cucumber or gourd family) indigenous to the southern reaches of China, northern Vietnam, southern Korea, and Japan. Jiaogulan is best known as an herbal medicine reputed to have powerful antioxidant and adaptogenic effects purported to increase longevity. Pharmacological research has indicated a number of therapeutic qualities of Jiaogulan, such as lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, strengthening immunity, and inhibiting cancer growth.

Let’s see what the actual research says (Research abstracts available on Pubmed)

Obesity: There are currently 11 studies cited on Pubmed in regard to the effects of Jiaogulan on obesity.  Most of these utilized rats in the study or studied the effects on tissue outside the organism. There was one human study that used an extract of Jiaogulan.  From the study:

“During 12-week of actiponin supplementation, total abdominal fat area, body weight, body fat mass, percent body fat, and BMI were significantly decreased”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23804546

Diabetes:  Jiaogulan consumtion has positive a effect in treating diabetes:

From the study:

“The results of this study suggested that the GP tea exerted antidiabetic effect by improving insulin sensitivity.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23431428

Jiaogulan has a postive effect on Diabetes when used in conjunction with another treatment.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23125867

Cancer:

This study shows that component parts of  Jiaogulan inhibit some types of cancer cell growth and kills some cancer cells (apoptosis).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27034692

This study shows that Jiaogulan has “displays a splendid synergistic effect” in conjunction with another medicine used to treat colorectal cancer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26368019

Jiaogulan shows anti-fatigue effects in animal studies.

From the study:

“The data obtained showed that different doses of PGP could extend the exhaustive swimming time of the rats, as well as decrease the BLA and BUN concentrations, and increase the hemoglobin, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen concentrations, which suggests that PGP had significant anti-fatigue effects on rats.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25371572

Liver damage:

This animal study showed that Jiaogulan repaired liver damage while the other plant in the study caused liver damage.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10794120

Stroke:

From the study:

“Our data indicate that GPs (component parts of Jiaogulan) have neuroprotective effects during stroke… These findings provide new evidence for a potential therapy involving GPs for the treatment of stroke.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24334222

Cardioprotective effects of Jiaogulan in an animal study:

“results indicate that GP protects cell viability, reduces oxidative stress, and preserves mitochondrial function. In conclusion, our study suggests that GP may be of clinical value in cytoprotection during acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26800973

This animal study indicates that Jiaogulan reduces stress:

“In these states, the brain levels of dopamine and serotonin decreased by chronic EF stress and they were recovered by GPS.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26370834

These are just a few of the studies cited.  Searching on gynostemma pentaphyllum results in over 300 files.

Jiaogulan is redily available, inexpensive, safe, and of the three brands I have used, two of them taste great when brewed as a tea.  Don’t take my word for it. Even this study says some varieties tast good:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15706866

Jiaogulan is easy to find,  Here are a few links:

https://www.nutricargo.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=Jiaogulan&description=true

http://www.bulkherbsandspice.com/product/jiaogulan-powder-gynostemma/