Jiaogulan, new kid on the block?

[Guest guest]

Interesting herb I found on the LEF forum:

http://forum.lef.org/exec/readTopic.cgi?message_id=23420 & view=2#23420

 

" Jiaogulan posted by AJ

July 05 2001

 

Here's something interesting I just came across. Not previously mentioned on the

forums and a search didn't turn it up

on the LEF site under either Jiaogulan or the alternative name of Penta. It

" sounds " like something worth taking but who

really knows.

 

I ordered some from BAC anyway (cheap ).

 

http://www.beyond-a-century.com

" NEW! JIAOGULAN (Gynostemma) std to gypenocides. China's " Immortality Herb " has

been used as a medicinal and energizing

tea for centuries in Asia. Japanese research found it to be a powerful

adaptogenic antioxidant herb with properties and

chemical constituents similar, but perhaps superior, to ginseng. It helps

normalize blood pressure, blood sugar, and

cholesterol; strengthen the immune system; and may help athletic performance

with enhanced blood oxygen levels and

better mental focus. 1000, 50mg doses!!! 50 grams, $10.50 Code 877.0 "

 

I've pasted a full reference below. Other links:

http://www.naturalhealthconsult.com/Monographs/jiaogulan.html

http://members.tripodasia.com.sg/jiaogulan_tea/introd.htm

 

--------------------------

 

http://www.jiaogulan.net/Jiaogulan.htm

 

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum), is a plant that grows wild in China, as

well as many other countries throughout

Asia. In China, it has been used for many years as a medicinal and energizing

tea in the local regions where it grows.

Jiaogulan is sometimes called " Southern Ginseng " , since it grows in south

central China and because of its similarity to

ginseng in chemical composition and function. It is also praised as Xiancao,

" Immortality " Herb, because it grows wild

and has many health-giving qualities and anti-aging effects.

 

In the late 1970s, Japanese scientists began discovering jiaogulan's

illness-prevention and therapeutic qualities. What

they uncovered was an herb very similar in quality to ginseng, yet in some ways

superior. They found jiaogulan to

function as both an adaptogenic herb and as an antioxidant herb, containing many

health-giving saponins (chemical

compounds having a soapy characteristic), as well as trace minerals, amino

acids, proteins, and vitamins.

 

Jiaogulan contains a large quantity of these saponins, known also as

gypenosides. The structure of the gypenosides is

very similar to the panaxosides (also known as ginsenosides) found in ginseng.

There are four times as many saponins in

jiaogulan as there is in ginseng. Some of those saponins are identical to the

panaxosides in ginseng and some of them

turn into panaxosides when taken into the body. This results in a greater number

of saponins than ginseng, which may

translate into a more powerful regulatory effect on a number of bodily systems;

like blood pressure, the reproductive

system, the digestive system, the immune system, mental functions and more. 1, 2

 

Scientific research studies in China have shown that jiaogulan decreases

cholesterol by improving the liver's ability to

send sugar and carbohydrates to the muscles for conversion to energy instead of

turning the sugar into triglycerides

which the body stores as fat. 3 It lowers LDL's (bad cholesterol) while raising

HDL's (good cholesterol). It improves

fat metabolism, reduces blood fat levels and depresses lipid peroxide and fat

sediment in the blood vessels. 4

 

While it is great for rectifying high cholesterol and obesity problems, it can

also improve and strengthen the

digestion, allowing an underweight person to increase absorption of nutrients

and gain weight in the form of lean muscle

mass. This regulatory effect on bodily functions is the hallmark of an

adaptogen. 5

 

A study at Guiyang Medical College in China has shown that a jiaogulan recipe

increased strength and endurance in the

body. Considering the above statements overall, jiaogulan becomes the perfect

herb for anyone who wants to improve their

competitive edge in any field of athletic performance. 6

 

Adaptogenic functions of jiaogulan are demonstrated in its biphasic effects on

brain functions, which energize or calm

the system depending upon the body's need. 7 Jiaogulan also aids the regulation

of hormonal functions in both men and

women. The healthy maintenance of these physiological actions plays a major role

in the body's ability to cope with

stress. 8 Jiaogulan has also shown its effectiveness, in clinical research

studies, in helping the body resist

depression of the immune system and other stress-related symptoms. It increases

the production of Lymphocytes,

Phagocytes and serum IgG, but not to an excess. 9

 

Jiaogulan has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities through its many

saponins. 10 Jiaogulan also helps the body

to resist depression of the immune system and other stress-related symptoms. 11,

12 Furthermore there are other clinical

research studies, which indicate jiaogulan's ability to reduce tumor size. 13,14

It can even lower high blood pressure.

15

 

In China jiaogulan is praised as the " Herb of Immortality, " due to its many

health giving qualities and anti-aging

effects.

 

[ This evidence for the benefits of this plant extract (under the name

Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is contained in the

references below and 28 abstracts on PubMed. -- Tom ]

 

Footnotes

 

1. Song, W.M., et al. " Comparison of the adaptogenic effects of jiaogulan and

ginseng. " Zhong Cao Yao. Chinese. 1992;

23(3):136.

 

2. Wei, Y., et al. " The effect of gypenosides to raise White Blood Count. " Zhong

Cao Yao. Chinese. 1993; 24, 7, 382.

 

3. Kimura, Y., et al. " Effects of crude saponins of Gynostemma pentaphyllum on

lipid metabolism. " Shoyakugaku Zasshi.

Japanese. 1983 (Rec'd 1984); 37(3):272-275.

 

4. Yu, C. " Therapeutic effect of tablet gypenosides on 32 patients with

hyperlipaemia. " Hu Bei Zhong Yi Za Zhi. Chinese.

1993; 15(3):21.

 

5. Zhou, S., et al. " Pharmacological study on the adaptogenic function of

jiaogulan and jiaogulan compound. " Zhong Cao

Yao. Chinese. 1990; 21(7):313.

 

6. Zhou, Ying-Na, et al. " Effects of a gypenosides-containing tonic on the

pulmonary function in exercise workload. "

Journal of Guiyang Medical College.1993; 8(4):261.

 

7. Zhang, Yi-Qun, et al. " Immediate effects of a gypenosides-containing tonic on

the echocardiography of healthy persons

of various ages. " Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 1993; 18(4):261.

 

8. Zhou, Ying-Na, et al. Influence of kiwifruit/jiaogulan recipe on the lung

function and exercise endurance under

exercise workload. Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 1993; 18(4):256.

 

9. Liu, Jialiu, et al. Overall health-strengthening effects of a

gypenosides-containing tonic in middle aged and aged

persons. Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 1993; (3):146.

 

10. Li, Lin, et al. Protective Effect of Gypenosides Against Oxidative Stress in

Phagocytes, Vascular Endothelial Cells

and Liver Microsomes. Loma Linda University, Calif. Cancer Biotherapy. 1993;

8(3):263-272.

 

11. Hou, J., et al. Effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino on the

immunological function of cancer patients. Journal

of Traditional . (K9K). 1991; 11(1):47-52

 

12. Qian, Hao, et al. Protective effect of jiaogulan on cellular immunity of

patients with primary long cancer treated

with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai. 1995;

22(5):363-366.

 

13. Han, M.Q., et al. Effects of 24 Chinese medicinal herbs on nucleic acid,

protein and cell cycle of human lung

adenocarcinoma cell. Chung Kuo Chung His I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (BIF). Chinese.

1995 Mar; 15(3):147-9.

 

14. Wu, J.L., et al. Influence of gypenosides on thrombosis and synthesis of

TXA2 and PGF1a. Zhong Yao Yao Li Yu Lin

Chuang. Chinese. 1991; 7(2):39.

 

15. Lu, G.H., et al. Comparative study on anti-hypertensive effect of

Gypenosides, Ginseng and Indapamide in patients

with essential hypertension. Guizhou Medical Journal. Chinese. 1996; 20:1. "

 

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Will read the papers referenced and get back. This looks like a very good herb.

 

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

gowatson