This product is the rhizome or whole plant of the fiveleaf gynostemma (Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Mak.), a species of the bottle gourd peel family. It grows in shady and damp areas in the mountains and is produced in Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guizhou. It is now widely cultivated in various regions. It is harvested in autumn and dried in the sun.

bubble_chart Morphological Characteristics

Perennial climbing herb. Stem slender, nodes hairy or glabrous, tendrils often 2-lobed or undivided. Leaves pedate, usually composed of 5-7 leaflets; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to ovate, with petiolules; central leaflet 3-9 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, margin serrate, abaxially or along veins on both surfaces with short stiff hairs or nearly glabrous. Inflorescence a panicle; flowers small, about 3 mm in diameter; calyx lobes triangular, about 0.5 mm long; corolla lobes lanceolate, about 2 mm long. Fruit globose, black when mature. Flowering period July-August, fruiting period September-October.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter and slightly sweet, cool. Act on lung, spleen and kidney meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, cough-relieving, and phlegm-dispelling. Now commonly used as a tonic and strengthening medicine.

bubble_chart Indications

It is used to treat physical weakness, hyperlipidemia, viral hepatitis, and other conditions.

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

For internal use, 15-30g.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Contains fiveleaf gynostemma saponins (aypenoside) 1-52, among which 3, 4, 8, and 12 are structurally identical to Ginseng saponins (Rb1, Rb3, Rb, Rf2). It also contains flavonoids, sugars, amino acids, vitamins B, C, E, and a rich array of trace elements, particularly potassium and calcium.

1. It has antioxidant properties and promotes cell regeneration, which can delay the aging and degeneration of bodily functions.
2. It has the effects of inhibiting tumor cells, enhancing cell passage times, anti-fatigue, and regulating lipid metabolism, significantly reducing blood lipids and lipid peroxides.
3. Anti-aging: The free radical theory of aging posits that free radicals are byproducts of metabolism, and their accumulation leads to lipid peroxidation, membrane injury, and biomolecular cross-linking, resulting in disease, aging, and death. Fiveleaf gynostemma saponins can enhance SOD activity, reduce liver lipid peroxide LPO content, preliminarily revealing the antioxidant and anti-free radical injury effects of fiveleaf gynostemma saponins, as well as the generation and transformation mechanism of their anti-aging effects.
4. Lipid-lowering: Although fiveleaf gynostemma is a relatively recent development in lipid-lowering drugs, there are numerous reports on its chemical and pharmacological effects. Experiments have shown that fiveleaf gynostemma saponins can reduce serum total cholesterol CH and triglyceride TG levels by 23.2% and 59.6%, respectively. The majority of patients consider fiveleaf gynostemma saponins to be effective.