Gynostemma pentaphyllum seed
LATIN NAME: GYNOSTEMMA PENTAPHYLLUM
COMMON NAME: Jiaogulan, Miracle Tea, Southern Ginseng
The Jiaogulan is a handsome, vigorous, twining, perennial vine of the warm woodlands, and its fine, five-parted, toothed leaves and its small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers, followed by the small, round, black berries, have made it a treasured and long-honoured plant of the region. It grows as a vigorous, twining, perennial vine, reaching up to five metres or more, with twining, slender stems bearing alternate, long-stalked, five-parted leaves of the oval, pointed, toothed leaflets and, through the summer, small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers in small clusters, followed by small, round, glossy, black berries. It is a species of the flowering vine in the gourd family, native to the warm woodlands of eastern and southeastern Asia, while it grows in the shaded, moist places, and it is known as the Jiaogulan.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Jiaogulan has a real and distinguished place in research. It has been studied in the chemistry of natural products and the traditional use, since the aerial parts of the Jiaogulan have a long history of use in the traditional ways of eastern and southeastern Asia, and the researchers have examined the aerial parts and their constituents, while the traditional uses of the plant have drawn attention in the international pharmaceutical and botanical press, and the study of the plant and its chemistry has been of continuing interest across the world. The plant has also been studied in botany and ecology, since it is a native of the warm woodlands of the region, and its relationships, its distribution and its role in the forest have been examined, while the ecology of the woodland vines has been of continuing interest, and its fine, five-parted leaves have been of interest to the botanists. The species has also been studied in horticulture, since it is a fine, twining, leafy vine of the shaded garden, and the researchers have examined its growth and its cultivation, while the plant is best appreciated as a subject of study and a fine woodland vine rather than a casual remedy. For a plant of such long history, the Jiaogulan has a rich and continuing record of study.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
To grow the Jiaogulan from seed, ecologically, the Jiaogulan is a generous vine of the woodland garden. Its small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers feed the many insects, and its small, round, black berries feed the birds, while its fine, twining, leafy stems give a fine, green cover to the shaded trellis and the woodland edge. Its economic value is real: the Jiaogulan is prized for its long history of traditional use and its remarkable chemistry, and its value has drawn attention in the international pharmaceutical and botanical press as a plant of the region, while its fine, five-parted, leafy form has also made it a valued plant of the shaded garden. To raise the Jiaogulan, press the fine seeds gently into the surface of moist, free-draining soil, keep them lightly watered, and grow the little vines on in a shaded spot.
press the fine seeds gently into the surface of moist, free-draining soil, keep the young jiaogulan lightly watered, and grow the little vines on in a shaded spot.
LATIN NAME: Gynostemma pentaphyllum
COMMON NAME: Jiaogulan
The Jiaogulan is a handsome, vigorous, twining, perennial vine of the warm woodlands, and its fine, five-parted, toothed leaves and its small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers, followed by the small, round, black berries, have made it a treasured and long-honoured plant of the region. It grows as a vigorous, twining, perennial vine, reaching up to five metres or more, with the twining, slender stems bearing the alternate, long-stalked, five-parted leaves of the oval, pointed, toothed leaflets and, through the summer, the small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers in the small clusters, followed by the small, round, glossy, black berries. It is a species of the flowering vine in the gourd family, and it is native to the warm woodlands of the eastern and the south-eastern Asia, while it grows in the shaded, moist places, and it is known as the Jiaogulan.
The Jiaogulan belongs to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, and it is a species of the vigorous, twining, perennial vine, native to the warm woodlands of the eastern and the south-eastern Asia, while it grows in the shaded, moist places, and it is known as the Jiaogulan. It is prized for its fine, five-parted, toothed leaves.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Jiaogulan has a real and distinguished place in the research. It has been studied in the chemistry of the natural products and the traditional use, since the aerial parts of the Jiaogulan have a long history of use in the traditional ways of the eastern and the south-eastern Asia, and researchers have examined the aerial parts and their constituents, while the traditional uses of the plant have drawn attention in the international pharmaceutical and botanical press, and the study of the plant and its chemistry has been of continuing interest across the world. The plant has also been studied in the botany and the ecology, since it is a native of the warm woodlands of the region, and its relationships, its distribution and its role in the forest have been examined, while the ecology of the woodland vines has been of continuing interest, and its fine, five-parted leaves have been of interest to the botanists. The species has also been studied in the horticulture, since it is a fine, twining, leafy vine of the shaded garden, and researchers have examined its growth and its cultivation, while the growing of the Jiaogulan in the garden has been of continuing interest, and the plant is best appreciated as a subject of study and a fine woodland vine rather than a casual remedy. For a plant of such long history, the Jiaogulan has a rich and continuing record of study.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Jiaogulan is a generous vine of the woodland garden. Its small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers feed the many insects, and its small, round, black berries feed the birds, while its fine, twining, leafy stems give a fine, green cover to the shaded trellis and the woodland edge.
Its economic value is real. The Jiaogulan is prized for its long history of traditional use and its remarkable chemistry, and its value has drawn attention in the international pharmaceutical and botanical press as a plant of the region, while its fine, five-parted, leafy form has also made it a valued plant of the shaded garden. For a grower, the Jiaogulan is an easy and rewarding vine, and for a gardener it brings a five-parted, leafy, twining vine to the shaded garden. The seeds are easy to start — press them gently into the surface of moist, free-draining soil, keep them lightly watered, and theyll be sprouting steadily, growing on into a five-parted, leafy, twining vine.
It has the unique ability of restoring homeostatis (balance and equilibrium) to all five body systems. The body systems are the cardiovascular, digestive, immune, nervous and reproductive system. The chemical constituents responsible for the adaptogenic characteristic of Gynostemma are saponins (triterpene glycosides or gypenosides). Gynostemma contains the widest range of saponins from all the plants in nature. There are approximately four times as many saponins in Gynostemma Pentaphyllum as there are in ginseng. There are more than 100 different gypenosides in Gynostemma, all very similar to the ginsenosides of Panax Ginseng and Siberian Ginseng. Four of Gynostemma’s saponins share the identical chemical structure as the saponins found in Ginseng and eleven more are nearly identical. There is a saying that Gynostemma is "Ginseng at a tea price". Weight control Gynostemma has developed a large following in Asia in weight control programs. It has a double direction efficacy regarding body weight. It will help reduce weight in overweight people and help slim people and athletes to gain weight. It helps adjust blood sugar levels and reduce blood fat (hyperlipidemia) which are vital steps in attaining healthy metabolic function. Gynostemma helps maintain healthy bowels. It acts as a cleanser in the stomach and intestines, eliminating the body of toxins and waste. Antioxidant As an antioxidant, gynostemma boosts the immune system by increasing the number and activity level of white blood cells. It strengthens the digestive system by assisting in liver function. It helps relieve stress by soothing and relaxing the central nervous system. It is calming when one is overexcited and stimulating when one is depressed. Studies have shown that Gynostemma is useful in a number of neurological conditions, including depression, anxiety & stress.
Anti cancer Studies into the anti cancer activity of Gynostemma have shown a significant inhibition rate on a broad cross section of cancer cells. Intensive studies are being conducted into both its anti cancer activity and its potential as an immune protection / prophylactic agent for HIV infected patients. There is research indicating that Gynostemma may prevent cells from becoming cancerous in the first place and may disrupt cell division in existing cancer cells. The locals call it 'Miracle Tea' Gynostemma contains many amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are healthy to the human body, including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc and more. The locals who cultivate & consume Gynostemma call it 'miracle tea'.