A climbing vine from the cucumber family, Jiaogulan (aka. Sweet Tea Vine; Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a native from China, Southeast Asia and Japan that produces tendrils to climb up to 26 feet and attach itself to other structures.
Jiaogulan grows in forests or roadside thickets, producing serrated leaflets and small inedible purple gourds.
The leaves and young stems are cooked and consumed, and have a sweet taste which leads to one of its common names as the “Sweet Tea Vine”.
Jiaogulan is also a tonic herb that has been consumed in some mountainous areas of Southeast Asia and China, also sometimes referred to as the “Immortality Herb”, as old people from these regions have reported consuming it regularly.
As it is consumed as a “tonic herb”, which is thought to improve circulation, strengthen the nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems, and help with nervous tension and exhaustion, it is also considered as an adaptogenic herb.
Jiaogulan is also sometimes used in cosmetic and anti-aging formulations.
There has been little scientific research into the medicinal activities of Jiaogulan, but a few preliminary studies have found it to have anticancer, antioxidant, liver health, cardiovascular, gut microbiome, mitochondrial health and anti-diabetic activities.
Herbal extracts on the market are often standardized to gypenosides, which are triterpenoid saponin compounds that have similarities to the ginsenosides from ginseng.
A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explored the anti-obesity effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract in overweight individuals. Researchers found that daily supplementation significantly reduced body fat percentage and improved insulin sensitivity, likely due to its ability to regulate AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), a key enzyme involved in energy metabolism.
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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.