Here is some Jiaogulan research:

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) "the immortality herb" Extract in
The Chinese Formula Combetic

In the 1970's the Chinese government sponsored a study focused on the
large number of people living to over 100 years old in certain
provinces in Southern China. They discovered the centenarians drank a
tea brewed from a local herb called Jiaogulan, "the immortality herb"
for it's beneficial effects of vitality and longevity.

Jiaogulan enhances endurance, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure,
inhibits tumors and help protect the cellular immunity as well as
providing many other health benefits.

Jiaogulan improves the metabolism of the heart directly as well as
enhancing the release of nitric oxide in the body, which helps to
relax the coronary blood vessels.

What makes Jiaogulan unique is the wide variety of therapeutic
effects that scientists have demonstrated through their research;
i.e., antioxidant protection, enhancing cardiovascular function,
blood pressure and cholesterol regulation, positive influence on
blood elements, strengthening immunity, etc.

In other words, getting these benefits by taking Jiaogulan might
eliminate the need for taking an array of other supplements.

An herb for all reasons. Rothacker, Jordan.
Vegetarian Times (August 2001): 14(2).

Jiaogulan contains amino acids, proteins, vitamins and an abundance
of trace minerals. It's also high in saponins, a natural "detergent"
that can improve liver function, increase good cholesterol (HDL) and
lower the bad (LDL). Additionally, the herb has also been heralded as
an adaptogenic, meaning that it can enhance the body's ability to
keep itself healthy by controlling blood pressure and regulating the
digestive and immune systems. Studies indicate that jiaogulan aids in
white blood cell formation, acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces
tumor size.

Look out, echinacea and ginkgo: with such a range of potential health
benefits, jiaogulan is poised to be the next big thing.

Jiaogulan. Block, Betsy.
Natural Health v.29 no.9 (Nov-Dec 1999), p.41

According to Dr. Jialiu Liu, more than 20 studies of the Chinese
herb, "jiaogulan as a treatment for high cholesterol have been
published in China. In a meta-analysis of this research, Liu found
that jiaogulan lowered LDL (bad cholesterol) and raised HDL (good
cholesterol) in 67 to 93 percent of the 980 people studied. A 1996
study of more than 200 people with hypertension found that jiaogulan
was almost as effective as Indapamide, a prescription drug used to
treat high blood pressure (jiaogulan was 82 percent effective, while
the drug was 93 percent effective)." (p41)

Jiaogulan. Jule Klotter.
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 247-248 (Feb-March 2004): p25
(1).
The botanical Gynostemma pentaphyllum, known as Jiaogulan (pronounced
jee-ow-goo-lahn), is a powerful adaptogen and antioxidant… Jiaogulan
encourages body functions to normalize, strengthens the immune
system, and supports the adrenal glands…Its leaves contain active
components that are used in Chinese folk medicine to treat lung
ailments.

…Researchers have found that jiaogulan contains active saponins
(gypenosides) that boost cardiac output, increasing blood supply and
nourishment to body organs. These gypenosides also maintain blood
pressure within a normal range.

Jiaogulan's gypenosides have an equally modulating effect on the
central nervous system, calming irritated nerves and stimulating
underactive nerves. The herb also modulates lymphocyte
transformation, enhances lymphocyte activity, and inhibits tumor
growth. Two clinical studies found that gypenosides encourage the
body to produce superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme
that scavenges free radicals.

Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska
Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.

Extracts from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino (Cucurbitaceae), a
Southeast Asian herb, has been reported to affect numerous activities
resulting in antitumor, cholesterol-lowering, immunopotentiating,
antioxidant, and hypoglycemic effects. We have isolated one active
compound by ethanol extraction, distribution in n-butyl
alcohol/water, solid phase extraction/separation, and several rounds
of reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. We have shown
by NMR and mass spectrometry that this active compound is a novel
saponin, a gypenoside, which we have named phanoside (21-,23-epoxy-
,3beta-,20-,21-trihydroxydammar-24-ene-3-O-([alpha-d-rhamnopyranosyl
(1-->2)]-[beta-d-glycopyranosyl(1-->3)]-beta-d-lyxopyranoside)), with
a molecular mass of 914.5 Da. Phanoside is a dammarane-type saponin,
and four stereoisomers differing in configurations at positions 21
and 23 were identified, each of which were found to stimulate insulin
release from isolated rat pancreatic islets. We have also found that
the stereoisomers are interconvertible. Dose-dependent insulin-
releasing activities at 3.3 and 16.7 mM glucose levels were
determined for the racemic mixture containing all four stereoisomers.
Phanoside at 500 microM stimulates insulin release in vitro 10-fold
at 3.3 mM glucose and potentiates the release almost 4-fold at 16.7
mM glucose. At these glucose levels, 2 microm glibenclamide
stimulates insulin release only 2-fold. Interestingly, beta-cell
sensitivity to phanoside is higher at 16.7 mM than at 3.3 mM glucose,
although insulin responses were significantly increased by phanoside
below 125 microM only at high glucose levels. Also when given orally
to rats, phanoside (40 and 80 mg/ml) improved glucose tolerance and
enhanced plasma insulin levels at hyperglycemia.

Anti-hyperlipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of Gynostemma
pentaphyllum in the Zucker fatty rat.Megalli S, Davies NM, Roufogalis
BD.
Faculty of Pharmacy and Herbal Medicines Research and Education
Centre University of Sydney, Building Al5, Sydney NSW 2006.
smegalli@...

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a traditional Chinese medicine used for a
variety of conditions, including elevated cholesterol. We have
examined the pharmacological anti-hyperlipidemic and hypoglycemic
effectiveness of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in the obese Zucker fatty
diabetic rat model. After treatment for 4 days Gynostemma
pentaphyllum 250 mg/kg reduced triglyceride (33%), total cholesterol,
(13%) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (33%). These
effects were dose-dependent and maintained for at least 5 weeks.
Chronic treatment for 3-5 weeks also reduced post-prandial
hypertriglyceridemia induced by olive oil 10 mg/kg in the Zucker
fatty rats but had no significant effect in lowering sucrose-induced
hyperglycemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. A novel regulation by
Gynostemma of glucose levels was also observed in the Zucker fatty
rat model. In a glucose tolerance test in obese and lean Zucker rats
pretreatment with Gynostemma pentaphyllum 250 mg/kg demonstrated
glucose levels were significantly less 2 hours post challenge (20%)
in the Gynostemma pentaphyllum obese rats compared to the control
group. Gynostemma pentaphyllum did not significantly reduce glucose
levels at 120 min in the lean strain, in contrast to the 20% decrease
seen in the obese rat. In vitro, Gynostemma pentaphyllum inhibited
alpha-glucosidase activity (50% inhibition at 42.8), which compared
to acarbose (50% at 53.9 microg/mL). The improvement in glucose
tolerance at 120 min by Gynostemma pentaphyllum in obese Zucker fatty
rats but not lean rats suggests that it may improve insulin receptor
sensitivity and together with the significant reduction of
hypertriglyceridemia, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein
cholesterol suggests that Gynostemma should be examined further by
oral hypoglycemic/anti-hyperlipidemic therapy.

Evaluation of possible toxicity of Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Attawish
A, Chivapat S, Phadungpat S, Bansiddhi J, Techadamrongsin Y, Mitrijit
O, Chaorai B, Chavalittumrong P. Medicinal Plant Research Institute,
Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, 88/7
Tiwanont road, Muang, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.

The effect of water extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum was evaluated
on 6-month chronic toxicity in Wistar rats. Control group received
orally 10 ml kg(-1) day(-1). The extract was orally given to the five
treatment groups at the doses of 6, 30, 150, 750 and 750 mg kg(-1) day
(-1) for 24 weeks. The last group served as the recovery group. The
results showed that the extract did not produce any significant dose-
related changes. Therefore, it is concluded that the extract of G.
pentaphyllum at the given doses did not produce any significant toxic
effect in rats during 6-month period of the treatment.

JIAOGULAN OR GINSENG?

According to Subhuti Dharmanda, Ph.D., Portland Oregon, January 1999:

As a result of my investigations, jiaogulan became part of the
clinical treatment programs at our organization's clinics,
particularly for the treatment of persons undergoing cancer
therapies. Jiaogulan is a tonic adaptogen herb that can help protect
the body from the stresses of the cancer therapies.

Jiaogulan has been a relatively obscure folk remedy in China, mainly
used for treating lung diseases. It was recently discovered to
contain the same kind of active constituents as ginseng. In fact, a
few of its ingredients were shown to be identical to those found in
ginseng.

Ginseng became famous because of the root's shape, which is sometimes
like a human figure. To be an effective health-care product, the root
has to be grown for many years (6 years is the standard for most
cultivated ginseng ), which contributes to the rarity and high cost
of ginseng. Jiaogulan grows wild over a large region, and provides
low cost supplies of the active constituent from its leaves that can
be harvested each year. For this reason, jiaogulan is a very
appealing ginseng substitute.

Various Chinese clinical trails have shown that jiaogulan is safe and
has both chemical constituents and herbal properties comparable to
that of ginseng. Proponents of the herb suggest that it might even be
superior to ginseng, having a broder range of the active constituents
( more variety of saponin glycosides, Jiaogulan having 82, ginseng
having 28 ), and producing less of a stimulatory action in persons
who are sensitive to ginseng in that way. The body of research
supporting the use of jiaogulan is extensive and expanding, so much
so that jiaogulan has become a permanent addition to the valuable
collection of Chinese herbal tonics used as adaptogens.

Jiaogulan the Rejuvenating Elixir

According to the book, Jiaogulan China's "Immortality" Herb by
Michael Blumert and Dr. Jialiu Liu:

Jiaogulan has been used by the people in the mountainous regions of
Southern China as an energizing agent. They take it as a tea before
work to increase endurance and strength, and after work to relieve
fatigue. It is taken for general health and as a rejuvenating elixir.
The local Chinese called Jiaogulan xiancao the "Immortality Herb,"
and described it, "Like ginseng but better."

Jiaogulan contains saponins, flavones, polysaccharides, amino acids,
vitamins and minerals, including many essential trace elements. Among
these, the saponins are the most important of the effective
components. The type of saponins of both Jiaogulan and Panax ginseng
are classified as belonging to the dammarane diol family, hence both
herbs exert similar effects on the human body. There is a similarity
between the chemical structure of gypenosides and our own body's own
steroids which explains the secret of the energizing, balancing and
therapeutic effects.

Out of the 82 saponins or gypenosides of jiaogulan, 4 are exactly the
same as ginseng in chemical structure and function. 17 other
gypenosides, when hydrolyzed, have been found to be similar to those
found in ginseng. Jiaogulan differs from Panax ginseng in that most
herbalists offer a caution to persons with high blood pressure to
avoid higher doses of Panax ginseng. There are no such cautions with
jiaogulan.

It seems timely now for researchers, natural health practitioners,
and the health industry to look more seriously at the use of
jiaogulan and jiaogulan based products as a beneficial addition to
their range of health care supplements.

Jiaogulan is one of the 11 herbal extracts in the Chinese diabetic
formula Combetic that helps normalize blood sugar levels. Combetic
has the right combination of synergestic herbs that contributes to
optimum health of the immune system, circulatory system, cholesterol,
triglyceride levels and helping in the recovery of complications,
illness and fatigue. For more information and research about
Jiaogulan and Combetic, visit: http://www.thirddayresources.com

Thank you,
Health and Happiness,
Rob