Description
Spray dried concentrated powder in capsules. Made
from the purist, highest grade Gynostemma in the
world.
Primary
Traditional Functions
Tonifies Qi, cooling, adaptogenic,
anti-inflammatory
Typical
Usage
2 or 4 capsules, 2 or 3 times per day
Note
Scientific Data: Following are the results of
studies done in China, Korea and Japan on
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) and its gypenosides:
1. Gypenosides have been shown to protect vascular
endothelial cells from oxidant injury. The data
thus suggest that gypenosides may be beneficial
for the prevention and treatment of
atherosclerosis and for retardation of the aging
process. Studies have shown that the water extract
of GP can decrease the activity of multiple
coagulation factors. This extract can accelerate
the erythrocyte electrophoresis rate. The studies
revealed that GP is an antithrombotic agent
affecting the links of thrombotic chain.
2. The total saponin of GP can markedly act
against the immunity inhibition due to Cy
management in experimental animals. The total
saponin showed a definite bi-directional
immunomodulatory action in normal healthy mice,
recovering the immune indices to normal value from
either originally lower or higher than the medium
figure, by significant difference in comparison
with the Cy groups. The total saponin also had
actions to prevent from fatigue and to tolerate
hypoxia under usual atmospheric pressure. These
data indicate that the total saponin of GP is an
effective immunomodulator, similar in action to
Ginseng, Astragalus, Ganoderma and several other
Chinese herbs.
3. GP can improve exercise endurance of white
rats, especially healthy and trained rats. Studies
showed that the muscle cells of rats having taken
GP for 45 days were less injured after physical
exhaustion than those of the control group. Both
phosphate and liciferase assays showed that GP
saponin could to some extent extend or activate
(Na plus -K plus) ATP-ase in membrane.
4. Gypenosides regulate lymphocyte transformation
and DNA synthesis by regulating DNA polymerase II
activity.
5. In search of new products for the treatment of
hyperlipidemia with a low frequency of side
effects, a decoction of Crataegus cuneata, Nelumbo
nucifera and GP has been tested. A reduction of
triglyceride and cholesterol was seen.
6. The action of gypenosides as an antioxidant was
studied using various models of oxidant stress in
phagocytes, liver microsomes and vascular
endothelial cells. It was found that GP decreased
superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide content in
human neutrophils, etc. It was also found that GP
protected biomembranes from oxidative injury by
reversing the decreased membrane fluidity of liver
microsomes and mitochondria, increasing
mitochondrial enzyme activity in vascular
endothelial cells and decreasing intracellular
lactate dehydrogenase leakage from these cells.
The extensive antioxidant effect of GP may be
valuable to the prevention and treatment of
various diseases such as atherosclerosis, liver
disease and inflammation.
7. GP water extract was shown to have significant
anti-inflammatory and liver-protective effects in
rats.
8. The immunopotentiating effects of gypenosides
in relation to the network of
neuroendocrine-immune modulation (NIM) were
examined. The results indicate that the mechanism
of immunomodulating effects of gypenosides may be
mediated through the NIM network, and suggest a
close relationship between the neuroendocrine
activities and the immunofunctions.
9. A study on rabbits indicates that GP has the
protective effect on acute cerebral ischemia
injury.
10. A comparison study between the effects of
gypenosides and ginsenosides (from Panax Ginseng)
on cardiac function and hemodynamics was done on
dogs. It was found that the coronary flow was
raised and the heart rate lowered by both
gypenosides and ginsenosides. The lowering of
myocardial oxygen consumption after the
administration of gypenosides and ginsenosides
could be explained by the decreasing of cardiac
tension-time index and the slowing of heart rate.
Nevertheless, it was insignificant that
gypenosides and ginsenosides affected the
myocardial contractility and heart pump function.
The effects of gypenosides are slightly more
potent than ginsenosides.
11. Gypenosides is a potent inhibitor to platelet
aggregation and its action mechanism may be
related to inhibiting the platelet from releasing
reaction and increasing the platelet cAMP level.
12. Gypenosides was shown to have a platelet
aggregation factor which was completely inhibited
by prostaglandin 12, but was not affected by
aspirin. Studies indicate that the active
principle is most likely a kind of glycoside or
polysaccharide.
13. Crude saponins isolated from GP were tested
for their effect on lipid metabolism in corn
oil-containing, high sugar diet-fed rats. Oral
administration of such high sugar and fat diet
caused hyperlipemia, liver injury with increased
serum level of glutamic pyruvic transaminase
(GPT), and accumulation of lipid peroxide in the
liver. Administration of the crude saponins from
GP reduced serum levels of triglycerides, lipid
peroxide, total cholesterol, phospholipids and GPT
in such high sugar and fat diet-fed rats. Japan.
14. Pharmacological and clinical investigation has
pointed out that gypenosides(also called
"gynosaponins" by Hu) can effectively
inhibit cancer cells in the liver, stomach, lung,
skin and uterus.
15. The basic chemical structure of the
gynosaponins is of the dammarane type.
16. The sweet flavor in the leaves of GP is due to
phyllodicin. Other constituents of GP include
Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, calcium,
sodium, iron, phosphorus, carotene, protein, fat,
fiber and sucrose.
17. Animal tests proved that crude gynosaponins
possessed obvious anticancer and antiulcer action,
inhibited the side effects of
glucocortico-hormones, promote cell metabolism,
benefit sleep and lover blood lipids. Gynosaponins
might be able to inhibit the multiplying of cancer
cells in liver, uterus, lung, etc. by as much as
20~80%. In mice with experimental sarcoma-180, the
cancer may be reduced by 40% at the dose of 50
mg/kg of GPS every day for seven days.
18. If mice were injected with dexamethasone
beforehand i.p. at the dose of 10 mg/kg a day for
10 days and then injected with gypenosides at the
dose of 10 mg/kg a day for 10 days, GPS might
prevent the side effects of dexamethasone, such as
atrophy in the adrenal gland and thymus.
19. Gypenosides 22, 30 and 41 have obvious
antiulcer activity.
20. Extended administration of GP might inhibit
the forming of experimental cholelithiasis,
lowering the cholesterol in blood and bile. In the
experimental group was used the feed containing
1.2% cholesterol and into it was added the fine
powder of Gynostemma. The mice were fed with this
kind of feed. In the control group was used the
feed containing 1.2% cholesterol with the addition
of flour. The mice in the control group were fed
with this feed. Three weeks later, cholesterol
value, total bile acid value and phospholipids
value were determined in animal bile and
observation was made to see if any stone was
formed in the gall bladder. The results indicated
that in 3 mice of the experimental group, stone
was formed; and in 6 mice of the control group,
stone was formed. In 2 mice of the experimental
group, more than 11 stones were formed, but in 4
mice of the control group, 11 stones were formed.
In the mice of the controlled group, were found
mucous membrane multiplying, bleeding and swollen
fat liver. In the experimental group the
cholesterol value and total bile acid
concentration in blood and bile were markedly
decreased in comparison with the control group.
21. In a swimming test in which mice fed
gypenosides at the dose of 200 mg/kg had obviously
better body force and tolerance than those in the
control group that were not given GPS.
22. The LD50 of mice i.p. GPS is 755 mg/kg. The
LD50 of rats i.p. is 1.85 g/kg. Oral
administration at the dose of 10 g/kg was
non-toxic which was more than the determination
limitation of LD50. Thus gypenosides are very safe
for consumption.
23. Gynostemma contains trace elements, of which 5
are fundamental to human body. Mineral analysis
indicates that GP contains: Se, Mg, Zn, Ca, Fe, K,
Mn, P, etc.( See table 3. Content determination of
trace element)
Table 3. Content Determination of Trace Elements
Trace elements Content (mg/g)
calcium, Ca 19475.00
zinc, Zn 178.75
iron, Fe 786.30
manganese, Mn 87.50
magnesium, Mg 2045.00
GP contains water-soluble amino acids, various
vitamins, protein.
Table 2. Content Determination of Amino Acid
Amino Acid Content (mg/g)
leucine, Leu 0.0549
histidine 0.0473
lysine, Lys 1.5563
glutamic acid, glutaminic acid 0.6872
glycine, glycocoll 0.8600
methionine, Met 0.3289
aspartic acid, ASP 0.0929
threonine 0.1425
serine 0.1629
cystine 1.1325
isoleucine 0.2127
arginine 0.0559
phenylalanine 0.9758
24. The use of glucocorticoids in therapy can
preserve life. However the side effects may
include excessive appetite, lack of energy, dropsy
or obesity, keratitis, pigmentation and
hypertension, etc. It is usually accompanied by
severe damage to the adrenal glands, thymus and
other organs, resulting in early aging syndrome.
The thymus is the center of the immune system,
though it atrophies with age. Therefore protecting
the thymus and adrenal glands from atrophying is
essential in anti-aging efforts. Gypenosides can
prevent these side effects from happening and
restore the organs that have atrophied due to the
damaging effects of glucocorticoids. GP and
gypenosides can greatly improve the suppressed
immunity caused by steroids abuse. It can also
strengthen the phagocytosis of the phagocytes in
the abdominal cavity of mice, it increases the
weight of the spleen and adrenal gland. This is
why GP is called an "immunity
strengthener." Researchers (Ma Bing Xuan,
et.al) believe that GP has strong preventive and
curing effect against the damage due to steroids.
The use of gypenosides to prevent and cure the
side effects of steroid use has been granted a
patent in Japan. The patent recommends dosages for
adults of 5~500 mg/day, usually 10~250 mg/day, 3~4
times, orally.
25. The adrenal cortex is a superbly developed
organ for the regulation of homeostasis. It is
essential for life. The hormones of the adrenal
cortex can be divided into two main categories:
(1) glucocorticoids which affect carbohydrate
metabolism, and
(2) mineralocorticoids which affect water and salt
metabolism. It is fairly well established that GP
influences the glucocorticoids produced in the
innermost zone of the adrenal cortex, the zona
reticularis, and has a regulatory influence on the
secretion of the glucocorticoids, hormones that
influence carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
Cortisol, also known as hydrocortisone is the most
important glucocorticoid, its secretion being
regulated by ACTH. The drug cortisone is the
synthetic cortisol analogue. GP may help regulate
the secretions of the outermost zone of the
adrenal cortex as well, including the
mineralocorticoids, the most important of which
are aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone, which
regulate the water and electrolyte metabolism of
the body.
26. Gynostemma can help adjust and regulate blood
sugar levels.
27. In the test in vitro where 0.38-0.75%
Gypenoside is used directly to kill S-180 sarcoma
cell, the killing rate is 54~87.5% while control
group only has 28.84% death rate.
28. Zhe Jiang Traditional Medical Research
Institute used Gynostemma instant granule ( each
bag contains 400mg Gypenoside) on cancer patients
after their operation. All the patients improved
their conditions. The total effectiveness rate
reaches 89.47%. It improves the cell immune
function, lowers the IgG. IgM. It can also induce
the thymus-dependent lymphocytes to differentiate
and sensitize so that they can kill the relevant
target tumor cells on contact.
Gynostemma has real potential as a biological
reaction regulator in treating malignant tumor.
Gypenoside can not only directly kill cancer
cells, it also increases the titer of PFC plaque
forming cell and hemaglutination antibody,
strengthens the delayed hypersensitivity of mice
and therefore improves the immunity of tumor
carrying animals. Theses might be some of the
reasons why Gypenoside has anti-cancer and
anti-tumor effects and can prevent the growth of
tumors.
29. It was reported in Yunnan Province that it was
used to treat senile chronic bronchitis in 537
cases. The total effective rate was 79% after the
treatment of one therapeutic period. It was found
that the stemona was more effective in treating
bronchitis than the leaves. It was taken 2.5 - 3.9
g tid, for ten days as one therapeutic course.
30. The gypenosides 3,4,8 and 12 are virtually
identical to ginseng saponins Rb1, Rb3, Rd and F2
in structure, respectively. |
