Pinyin: Jiaogulan
Aliases
Qiye Dan, Xiao Ku Yao, Bian Di Sheng Gen.
Source
1. For pneumonia: Renshen 6 g, decoct in water and take orally.Gynostemma pentaphyllumDried whole plant of (Thunb.) Makino.
Botanical Description
A perennial climbing herb. Stems slender, much branched, with longitudinal ridges and grooves, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Leaves alternate, petiole 3-7 cm long; tendrils slender, bifurcate, rarely simple, glabrous or pubescent at base; leaf blades membranous or papery, pedately compound with 5-9 leaflets, usually 5-7, ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, central leaflet 3-12 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, lateral leaflets smaller, dark green above, pale green below, both surfaces covered with short stiff hairs. Dioecious; male flowers in panicles, inflorescence spikes slender, much branched; with subulate bracteoles at base; calyx tube very short, 5-lobed, lobes triangular; corolla pale green, 5-parted, lobes ovate-lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm long, about 1 mm wide; stamens 5, filaments short, united into a column; female flowers in panicles, smaller than male flowers, calyx and corolla similar to male flowers; ovary globose, styles 3, short and bifurcate, stigmas 2-lobed, with 5 short rudimentary stamens. Fruit globose, 5-6 mm in diameter, black when mature, smooth and glabrous. Contains 2 pendulous seeds, ovate-cordate, about 4 mm in diameter, grayish-brown or dark brown. Flowering period March to November, fruiting period April to December.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows in dense valley forests at altitudes of 100-3200 m, in sparse forests on slopes, or in thickets. Distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, and areas south of the Yangtze River.
Harvesting and Processing
It can be harvested 3-4 times each summer and autumn, washed clean, and dried in the sun.
Chemical Constituents
This product primarily contains sterols, dammarane-type tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins, and flavonoids. Among these are components such as 5,24-cucurbitadienol.
Pharmacology
Enhances immune function by increasing the effects on nonspecific immunity, stimulating lymphocyte transformation and the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2), and enhancing humoral and cellular immunity as well as the activity of natural killer cells; exhibits antitumor effects, delays aging, influences lipid metabolism, and regulates cardiovascular system function; on the blood system, it has effects in inhibiting coagulation, platelet function, and red blood cell aggregation; has a significant inhibitory effect on the central nervous system. It can prevent adrenal and thymus atrophy and the reduction of plasma cortisol levels caused by dexamethasone. It significantly increases the weight of the testes, seminal vesicles, and prostate in male rats and the uterus in female rats, exhibiting androgenic and estrogenic effects.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, slightly sweet, and cool. Enters the Lung, Spleen, and Kidney channels.
Functions and Indications
Clears Heat, tonifies deficiency, and resolves toxicity. Main indications: general weakness due to deficiency, seminal emission due to consumptive disease, leukopenia, hyperlipidemia, viral hepatitis, chronic gastroenteritis, and chronic bronchitis.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 15-30 g, or grind into powder, 3-6 g; or steep as tea. External use: appropriate amount, mash and apply topically.
Prescriptions
1. For chronic bronchitis: Dry *Gynostemma pentaphyllum* in the sun and grind into powder. Take 3-6 g orally each time, 3 times daily. (Zhejiang Medicinal Flora) 2. For fatigue-induced deficiency and spermatorrhea: Decoct 15-30 g of *Gynostemma pentaphyllum* in water, 1 dose daily. (Zhejiang Folk Commonly Used Herbs)
