Organic Jiaogulan

Organic Gynostemma pentaphyllum, also called jiaogulan or immortal grass.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum, also called jiaogulan, is an herbaceous vine of the family Cucurbitaceae (cucumber or gourd family) indigenous to the southern reaches of China. Jiaogulan is best known as an herbal medicine reputed to have powerful antioxidant and adaptogenic effects purported to increase longevity. Clinical research has indicated a number of therapeutic qualities of Jiaogulan, such as lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, strengthening immunity, and inhibiting cancer growth.

Clinical research:

1, Antioxidant

Jiaogulan has been found to increase superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is a powerful endogenous cellular antioxidant. Studies have found it increases the activities of macrophages, Tlymphocytes and natural killer cells and that it acts as a tumor inhibitor.

2, Adaptogen

Jiaogulan is known as an adaptogen, which is an herb reputed to help the body to maintain optimal homeostasis by balancing endocrine hormones, the immune system, the nervous system, and other biological functions. Its chemical constituents include the triterpenoid saponins gypenosides which are closely structurally related to the ginsenosides from the well-known medicinal plant ginseng. Most research has been done since the 1960s when the Chinese realized that it might be an inexpensive source of adaptogenic compounds, taking pressure off of the ginseng stock. Adaptogenic effects include regulating blood pressure and the immune system, improving stamina and endurance. Jiaogulan is also believed to be useful in combination with codonopsis for jet lag and altitude sickness.

3, Blood pressure

The adaptogenic nature of gypenosides have been found lower hypertension and raise hypotension, keeping blood pressure in a normal range. Laboratory tests demonstrate that jiaogulan stimulates the release of nitric oxide, causing blood vessels to relax; this is one proposed mechanism by which jiaogulan reduces high blood pressure. In a double-blind study, gypenosides administered to with Grade II hypertension showed 82% effectiveness in reducing hypertension, compared to 46% for ginseng and 93% for Indapamide (a hypertension medication).

4, Cardiovascular functions

Animal studies as well as clinical testing on humans suggest that jiaogulan, when combined with other herbs, has beneficial effects on cardiovascular system, increasing heart stroke volume, coronary flow, and cardiac output while reducing the heart rate, without affecting arterial pressure.

5, Cholesterol reduction

Numerous clinical studies in Chinese medical literature have shown that jiagolan lowers serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) while raising HDL ("good" cholesterol) levels, with reported effectiveness rates ranging from 67% to 93%.

6, Diabetes

Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea has been used in a Randomized Controlled Trial to treat type 2 diabetic patients. It has shown potential as a hypoglycemic treatment to reduce blood glucose.

Organic Jiaogulan