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| Gynostemma pentaphyllum | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Subfamily: | Zanonioideae |
| Subtribe: | Gomphogyninae |
| Genus: | Gynostemma |
| Species: | G. pentaphyllum |
| Binomial name | |
| Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino 1902 |
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Gynostemma pentaphyllum, also called jiaogulan (Chinese: 绞股蓝; pinyin: jiǎogǔlán, literally "twisting-vine-orchid") is an herbaceous vine of the family Cucurbitaceae (cucumber or gourd family) indigenous to the southern reaches of China, southern Korea and Japan. Jiaogulan is best known as an herbal medicine reputed to have powerful antioxidant and adaptogenic effects that increase longevity.
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Range
Jiaogulan is a vine hardy to USDA zone 8 in which it may grow as a short lived perennial plant. It can be grown as an annual in most temperate climates, in well-drained soil with full sun. The plant is dioecious, meaning each plant exists either as male or female, thus if seeds are desired both a male and female plant must be grown. Unlike most of the Cucurbitaceae, jiaogulan does not show toxicity.
Uses
Ethnomedicine
The plant is best known for its use as an herbal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. A botany book by Wu Qi-Jun from 1848 Zhi Wu Ming Shi Tu Kao Chang Bian discusses a few medicinal uses and seems to be the earliest known documentation of the herb. Jiaogulan had been cited previously as a survival food in Zu Xio's 1406 book Materia Medica for Famine. Until recently it was a locally known herb used primarily in regions of southern China. It is described by the local inhabitants as the immortality herb, because people within Guizhou Province, where jiaogulan tea is drunk regularly, are said have a history of living to a very old age.[1][2]
Jiaogulan is most often consumed as an herbal tea, and is also available as an alcohol extract and in capsule or pill form.[3] It is known as an adaptogen and antioxidant. Because of its adaptogenic effects it is frequently referred to as "Southern Ginseng," although it is not closely related to true Panax ginseng. Its adaptogenic constituents include the triterpenoid saponins gypenosides which are closely structurally related to the ginsenosides from the well-known medicinal plant ginseng.[citation needed] Jiaogulan is a calming adaptogen which is also useful in formula with codonopsis for jet lag and altitude sickness.[2] Most research has been done since the 1960s when the Chinese realized that it might be an inexpensive source of adaptogenic compounds, taking pressure off of the ginseng stock.
Alternate names
Western languages such as English and German commonly refer to the plant as jiaogulan. Other names include:[4]
- Chinese: xiancao (仙草, literally "immortal grass"; more accurately "herb of immortality")
- English: five-leaf ginseng, poor man's ginseng, miracle grass, fairy herb, sweet tea vine, gospel herb, Southern Ginseng
- Japanese: amachazuru (kanji: 甘茶蔓; hiragana: あまちゃずる; literally 甘いamai=sweet, tasty 茶 cha=tea, 蔓 zuru=vine, creeping plant)
- Korean language: dungkulcha (덩굴차) or dolwe (돌외)
- Latin: Gynostemma pentaphyllum or Vitis pentaphyllum
- Taiwanese: sencauw
- Thai: jiaogulan (เจียวกู่หลาน)
- Vietnamese: giảo cổ lam
- Portuguese: cipó-doce
Jiaogulan tea is also marketed in the United States under the trade names Panta tea or Penta tea, depending on the supplier.
References
- ^ Winston, David; Steven Maimes (April 2007). Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press. ISBN 978-1594771583. Contains a detailed herbal monograph on jiaogulan and highlights health benefits.
- ^ a b Bensky, Dan; Andrew Gamble, Steven Clavey, Erich Stöger (September 2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd Edition. Eastland Press. ISBN 978-0939616428.
- ^ Blumert, Michael; Jialiu Liu (2003). Jiaogulan: China's "Immortality" Herb. Badger, CA: Torchlight Publishing. pp. 66–70. ISBN 1-887089-16-0.
- ^ "Other Names for Jiaogulan". Immoralitea. 2005. http://www.immortalitea.com/othernames.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
External links
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