Jiaogulan
Gynostemma pentaphyllum · Jiǎo Gǔ Lán 绞股蓝
'Southern ginseng' studied for metabolic health.
Evidence tier
Preliminary
Research weight
Citations
17 verified / 17
Classification
TCM Herb
❝
What the evidence says. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.
What is Jiaogulan?
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum · Jiǎo Gǔ Lán 绞股蓝) is a traditional Chinese medicine herb used for blood-sugar & lipid support. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Jiaogulan (Jiǎo Gǔ Lán) contains gypenosides chemically similar to ginseng's ginsenosides, earning it the name 'southern ginseng'. Small trials suggest it can improve insulin sensitivity, lipids, and markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, possibly via AMPK activation. The data are early and from small samples, so it is best viewed as promising rather than proven.
Purported Benefits
✓Blood-sugar & lipid support
✓Adaptogenic
✓Antioxidant
✓Possible fatty-liver support
Evidence by outcome
The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.
| Outcome | Evidence | Effect | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glycemic control (FPG, HbA1c) in type-2 diabetesMeta-analyses (n=584) and an RCT show meaningful HbA1c (~1%) and FPG drops, but pooled certainty is low and trials small. | Moderate | ↑ benefit · moderate | 3 |
| Blood lipids (triglycerides, LDL, HDL)Systematic review of 22 RCTs (n=2,407) found added benefit on top of lipid drugs, but very low certainty of evidence. | Moderate | ↑ benefit · small | 1 |
| Body weight / abdominal fatOne 12-week RCT (n=80) of actiponin extract reduced abdominal fat and weight; single trial. | Preliminary | ↑ benefit · small | 1 |
| Anxiety / psychological stressOne 8-week RCT (n=72) lowered trait-anxiety scores ~18%; single study, healthy stressed adults. | Preliminary | ↑ benefit · small | 1 |
| Exercise capacity / fatigue (VO2max)Two small RCTs raised VO2max and improved a time-trial ~4%; small samples, healthy adults. | Preliminary | ↑ benefit · small | 2 |
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
~450 mg standardized extract/day, or as a tea.
Active Compounds
Safety & Cautions
Generally well tolerated. Possible nausea. May enhance blood-sugar-lowering drugs — monitor if diabetic. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Jiaogulan with any medicine.
Key Studies ★ 17 studies
meta-analysis
Wang 2026 glycemic meta-analysis
✓ Full text
Meta-analysis of 8 clinical studies (n=584) found Gynostemma pentaphyllum reduced fasting plasma glucose by 0.79 mmol/L, HbA1c by 1.01%, and 2-hour postprandial glucose by 0.90 mmol/L, with greater effect in longer-term treatment and monotherapy.
Meta-analysis
Liu 2026 (Front Pharmacol)
✓ Source
Meta-analysis of 8 studies (584 patients) found Gynostemma pentaphyllum reduced fasting plasma glucose by MD -0.79 mmol/L (95% CI -1.08 to -0.51), HbA1c by -1.01% (95% CI -1.41 to -0.61), and 2-hour postprandial glucose by -0.90 mmol/L (95% CI -1.95 to -0.15).
Meta-analysis
Wang et al. 2026 (Front Pharmacol)
✓ PubMed
Meta-analysis of 8 clinical studies (584 patients): Gynostemma pentaphyllum significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (MD -0.79 mmol/L, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.51), HbA1c (MD -1.01%, 95% CI -1.41 to -0.61), and 2-h postprandial glucose (MD -0.90 mmol/L, 95% CI -1.95 to -0.15), with greater effect for long-term and monotherapy use.
systematic review / meta-analysis
Su 2022 (systematic review/meta-analysis)
✓ PubMed
Systematic review of 22 RCTs (n=2,407) found G. pentaphyllum added to lipid-lowering drugs further reduced triglycerides (-0.65 mmol/L) and LDL-C (-0.57 mmol/L) and raised HDL-C (+0.15 mmol/L) in dyslipidemia, with few adverse events.
Systematic review
Su 2022 (Front Pharmacol)
✓ Full text
Systematic review of 22 RCTs (2,407 dyslipidemia participants) found Gynostemma pentaphyllum comparable to statins/fibrates/n-3 fatty acids for triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL-C (very low certainty), with G. pentaphyllum plus lipid-lowering agents superior to agents alone and fewer adverse events.
Meta-analysis
Chattopadhyay et al. 2022 (Front Pharmacol)
✓ PubMed
JBI systematic review/meta-analysis of 199 RCTs of Ayurvedic medicines for type 2 diabetes; G. pentaphyllum (Makino) reduced HbA1c by -1.0% (95% CI -1.5 to -0.6) versus control, one of the larger HbA1c reductions among the herbs evaluated.
randomized controlled trial (crossover)
2023 exercise/metabolism RCT
✓ PubMed
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 16 healthy untrained men: 4 weeks of 450 mg/day G. pentaphyllum extract lowered resting plasma glucose and leptin and improved 20-km time-trial performance (~4%) with increased muscle AMPK phosphorylation.
randomized controlled trial
Hair health RCT 2025
✓ PubMed
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (94 completers): G. pentaphyllum extract increased hair density (+14 vs +4.85 hairs/cm2), elasticity and shaft diameter versus placebo, with minimal adverse events.
rct
Kim 2023 fatigue/VO2max RCT
✓ PubMed
Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in 100 healthy adults: 12 weeks of gypenoside L-containing G. pentaphyllum extract significantly raised VO2max and O2 pulse and reduced perceived exertion and temporal fatigue versus control.
rct
Choi 2019 anxiety RCT
✓ PubMed
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 72 healthy Korean adults with chronic psychological stress: ethanol leaf extract (200 mg twice daily, 8 weeks) reduced trait-anxiety (T-STAI) and lowered total STAI score by ~17.8% versus placebo, with no notable safety issues.
randomized controlled trial
Park 2013 actiponin RCT
✓ PubMed
12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=80 obese Koreans): 450 mg/day heat-processed extract (actiponin) significantly reduced total abdominal fat area, body weight, body fat mass and BMI versus placebo, with no significant safety changes.
RCT
Huyen et al. 2010 (Horm Metab Res)
✓ PubMed
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 24 drug-naive T2DM patients, GP tea 6 g/day x 12 wk: fasting plasma glucose fell 3.0 mmol/L vs 0.6 mmol/L placebo (p<0.01), HbA1c fell ~2% units vs 0.2% (p<0.001), and HOMA-IR insulin resistance improved (-2.1 vs +1.1, p<0.05), with no hypoglycemia or adverse hepatic/renal effects.
toxicology study
Chiranthanut 2013 toxicity evaluation
✓ PubMed
Toxicology study in Sprague-Dawley rats: standardized G. pentaphyllum extract (6% gypenosides) caused no mortality or abnormalities at a single 5000 mg/kg acute dose or 1000 mg/kg/day for 90 days, supporting a wide safety margin (subchronic NOAEL >1000 mg/kg/day).
preclinical (animal study)
Liver lipidomics study 2023
✓ PubMed
In high-fat-diet-fed mice, heat-processed G. pentaphyllum gypenosides reduced body weight, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and hepatic lipid accumulation, downregulating lipogenic genes (SREBP1, ACC1, SCD1) and upregulating lipid-oxidation pathways.
Study
Huyen 2010 / 2013
✓ PubMed
Improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in type-2 diabetics.
Study
NAFLD pilot studies
✓ PubMed
Reduced liver fat / enzymes in small trials.
Preclinical
Preclinical
✓ PubMed
AMPK activation and antioxidant effects in lab models.