Jiaogulan is one of 11 herbs in the Chinese herbal formula Combetic that helps regulate blood sugar levels for diabetics. It was discovered in the 1970s that centenarians in China regularly drank a tea made from Jiaogulan, known as the "immortality herb", and research has found that Jiaogulan has many health benefits such as enhancing endurance, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and improving immune function. Studies also show that Jiaogulan aids in regulating blood sugar levels, lowering LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol. A novel saponin compound extracted from Jiaogulan, called phanoside, has been shown to stimulate insulin release from rat

1. THIRD DAY RESOURCES, INC.
WWW.THIRDDAYRESOURCES.COM
HERBAL CHINESE FORMULA COMBETIC FOR DIABETICS
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) quot;the immortality herbquot; in
Combetic
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 synergistic 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.
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, quot;the immortality herbquot; 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 quot;detergentquot; 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.
Jiaogulan. Block, Betsy.
Natural Health v.29 no.9 (Nov-Dec 1999), p.41

2. According to Dr. Jialiu Liu, more than 20 studies of the Chinese herb, quot;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).quot; (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.