About Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)
Gynostemma pentaphyllum ('jiaogulan') is a Chinese herb rich in gypenoside saponins. A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=80) of the standardized heat-processed extract (Actiponin, 450 mg/day) found reductions in abdominal fat area, body weight, and body fat percentage versus placebo, with a proposed AMPK-activation mechanism. This evidence is specific to the standardized branded extract — generic gynostemma tea/extract products of unknown gypenoside standardization have not been tested in this trial and shouldn't be assumed equivalent.
What Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) supports
- May reduce abdominal fat and body weight — based on one 12-week RCT of a specific standardized extract (Actiponin), not yet independently replicated
How much Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) to take
The RDA prevents deficiency. The effective range is what clinical trials used to actually move the outcome.
Effective
450–450
mg
450 mg/day of the standardized heat-processed extract (branded Actiponin) is the dose used in its supporting RCT; generic/unstandardized gynostemma products have not been tested at this dose.
Clinical evidence
Moderate clinical evidence. One placebo-controlled RCT (plus an erratum correction) supports the standardized Actiponin extract specifically; needs independent replication and doesn't necessarily generalize to unstandardized gynostemma.
NIH Fact Sheet