Jiaogulan · Gynostemma pentaphyllum
A climbing vine nicknamed the "immortality herb" in parts of China, studied for its gypenoside (damulin) compounds that activate AMPK, a key cellular energy and metabolic longevity pathway.
Short answer
There are now two solid human RCTs showing real, measurable effects — improved exercise performance and AMPK activation in one, reduced body weight/fat mass in another — which is better human evidence than most items on this list. Still early-stage overall, but genuinely promising.
Product and dose overview
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a adaptogen / ampk activator with evidence grade B, meaning it is supported by human RCTs. We track 0 products containing Jiaogulan. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per month.
What it is
Jiaogulan is a leafy vine traditionally consumed as a tea in southern China, where local populations have anecdotally reported unusual longevity. It contains gypenosides, saponins structurally similar to those in ginseng.
Why people take it
AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a master metabolic switch that mimics some effects of exercise and caloric restriction — two of the most robust longevity interventions known. Compounds that activate AMPK (like metformin and, per lab studies, jiaogulan's damulins) are of interest for potentially replicating some of these metabolic benefits.
Our verdict
There are now two solid human RCTs showing real, measurable effects — improved exercise performance and AMPK activation in one, reduced body weight/fat mass in another — which is better human evidence than most items on this list. Still early-stage overall, but genuinely promising.
Structure & class
Gynostemma extracts are standardized to gypenoside content; damulin A and damulin B are specific gypenosides identified as direct AMPK activators, discovered via a compound screen (Attawish et al./related work, PMID 21978948).
Mechanism & clinical data
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (Nayyar et al. 2023, Nutrients), 16 healthy males took 450 mg/day dried leaf extract (equivalent to 2.25 g dry leaf) for 4 weeks, showing increased AMPK Thr172 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle, decreased leptin and glucose, and ~4% improvement in a 20 km cycling time trial. A second RCT (Rao et al. 2021, J Hum Nutr Diet) using a standardized ActivAMP extract over 16 weeks in overweight adults found reductions in body weight and fat mass versus placebo, consistent with the AMPK-activation mechanism.
Pharmacokinetics
Not well characterized in humans for the active gypenosides (damulins); extract pharmacokinetics not established in published trials.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
May have mild blood-sugar and blood-pressure lowering effects, warranting caution when combined with diabetes or hypertension medication; long-term safety data beyond 16 weeks is limited; extract standardization varies significantly between commercial products.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regulatory status
Timeline
Regulatory events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Jiaogulan, most recent first. Studies link to the paper; regulatory entries name and link the responsible authority.
-
EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in April 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
-
EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
-
Nayyar M, et al. (2023). Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Increases Exercise Performance and Alters Mitochondrial Respiration and AMPK in Healthy Males. Nutrients. PMID 38004115.Nayyar M, et al. (2023). Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Increases Exercise Performance and Alters Mitochondrial Respiration and AMPK in Healthy Males. Nutrients. PMID 38004115.
-
Rao A, et al. (2021). The effect of an orally-dosed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (ActivAMP®) on body composition in overweight, adult men and women: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. J Hum Nutr Diet. PMID 34323337.Rao A, et al. (2021). The effect of an orally-dosed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (ActivAMP®) on body composition in overweight, adult men and women: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. J Hum Nutr Diet. PMID 34323337.
-
EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
-
EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
-
Nayyar M, et al. (2023). Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Increases Exercise Performance and Alters Mitochondrial Respiration and AMPK in Healthy Males. Nutrients. PMID 38004115.
Nayyar M, et al. (2023). Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Increases Exercise Performance and Alters Mitochondrial Respiration and AMPK in Healthy Males. Nutrients. PMID 38004115.
Read study → -
Rao A, et al. (2021). The effect of an orally-dosed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (ActivAMP®) on body composition in overweight, adult men and women: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. J Hum Nutr Diet. PMID 34323337.
Rao A, et al. (2021). The effect of an orally-dosed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (ActivAMP®) on body composition in overweight, adult men and women: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. J Hum Nutr Diet. PMID 34323337.
Read study →
Found in these products
All products in our catalog that contain Jiaogulan, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No products in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
See all in Adaptogen / AMPK activator →Molecules in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Jiaogulan in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
See Jiaogulan in context: the mechanism it acts through, the biomarker it moves, the products that dose it, and the trials that tested it.
View Jiaogulan on the Longevity Map →Frequently asked questions
What is Jiaogulan?
Jiaogulan is a leafy vine traditionally consumed as a tea in southern China, where local populations have anecdotally reported unusual longevity. It contains gypenosides, saponins structurally similar to those in ginseng.
What dose of Jiaogulan should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 450 mg per day, with a range of 450 to 2250 mg per day. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Jiaogulan safe?
May have mild blood-sugar and blood-pressure lowering effects, warranting caution when combined with diabetes or hypertension medication; long-term safety data beyond 16 weeks is limited; extract standardization varies significantly between commercial products.
What is the best Jiaogulan supplement?
We track 0 products containing Jiaogulan. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Jiaogulan?
Jiaogulan has evidence grade B, meaning it is supported by human RCTs. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Evidence grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new products are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.