Joy for Jiaogulan! The Health Benefits of Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) was first described in 1406 in a book written by a Chinese
author who labeled it as a food, although the plant is mainly used in herbal medicine.

The legendary longevity of residents of the Guizhou Province, who consume jiaogulan in the form of tea, led to the herb’s designation as the immortality herb.

Modern investigation of jiaogulan’s composition has identified the flavonoids rutin and ombuoside, as well as malonic acid as present in the plant.¹ Compounds known as saponins, which include gypenosides occurring in jiaogulan, were shown to have a “bidirective” immunomodulatory action by their ability to …read more