Gynostemma Pentaphyllum is a plant which is sometimes referred to as either 'Southern Ginseng' or 'Cheap Ginseng' as it was used as a cheap substitute for Panax Ginseng (as aside from Codonopsis Pilosula, which was used as an adulterant for Panax Ginseng to sell it at the normal price but cut costs). Surprisingly, Gynostemma has a good content of Ginsenosides that were once thought to be wholly unique to Panax Ginseng. As such, the biological effects of Gynostemma and Panax seem to be quite similar except Gynostemma may be more anti-diabetic (due to the unique Gypenosides in Gynostemma, that are not in Panax).

There are limited human studies at the moment, as most studies are attempting to delineate the large amount of Gypenosides in this herb to see which ones can be seen as the 'active' compounds. Currently, we have two human studies suggesting that a tea made from Gynostemma can be used alongside standard anti-diabetic therapy and augment the efficacy of it over time (known as adjunct therapy).

Most of its 'beneficial' effects beyond the diabetic effects (which are mediated by a possible mix of AMPK activation and PTP1B inhibition; the amount each contributes to the overall effects unknown) come from inducing antioxidant enzymes and protecting cells from oxidative damage over time. There seems to be a motif where preloading and chronic loading is very protective at low doses, and acute supplementation or rehabilitation (taking the supplement after the stressor) appears to be less effective. As such, the health effects of Gynostemma Pentaphyllum appear to be more prophylactic rather than rehabilitative or therapeutic.

This herb is also touted for youthfulness and longevity, but neither claim has been explored. Additionally, the anti-cancer effects are still in beginning stages of research but the effects appear to be very similar in many cell lines; some compound in the Gypenoside fragment may be an inducer of p53, a tumor suppressor gene, as the downstream events associated with p53 activity have been noted reActivAMP® is extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, an adaptogenic herb, and is standardized to two saponins - Gypenoside L and 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rg3. Introducing ActivAMP By regulating metabolic activity, AMPK influences glucose utilization, oxidation and appetite, making ActivAMP® the ultimate ingredient for metabolic health formulations. Why Choose ActivAMP? Containing a family of compounds that upregulate alarmins including the sestrins - which are produced during exercise - the sestrins activate an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPk). AMPk is often called the “master metabolic regulator” and switches on the same fat-burning and energy-producing metabolic processes that exercise does. By regulating metabolic activity (in the liver, lipids, skeletal muscle and brain), AMPk influences glucose utilization, oxidation, and appetite.