Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) Preliminary research indicates it may have some benefits as an adaptogen but the research is still in it's infancy. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan), with ginsenoside-like saponins, has been used as an herbal tea containing various bioactive gypenoside derivatives and flavonoids, and has been found to have pharmacological functions against stress, diabetes, fatigue, hyperlipidemia, immunity, oxidative stress, neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and Parkinson's, and cancer [1]. It modulates the activity of dopamine and serotonin neurons and reduces stress hormones, along with neurotrophic antidepressant effects [2, 3, 4] One double-blind placebo-controlled human clinical trial demonstrated the herb’s ability to significantly reduce anxiety and stress in groups of high anxiety and normal individuals, reducing “anxiety proneness” in subjects under chronic psychological stress [5] It has strong neuroprotective potential and anti-neuroinflammatory effects. A study with elderly stroke patients showed that administering Jiaogulan for a 12-week period improved their cognitive functions to a level close to that of normal elderly subjects who had not suffered a stroke. In addition, the improvements were better than that of a control group given conventional nootropic therapy [6] This was also seen in another study [7] It also has potential in neurodegenerative disorders [8] 1 Review: https://examine.com/supplements/jiaogulan/ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113574 [1] https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fmolecules26206249 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26370834 [3] http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/4/4342/htm [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27385417 [5] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2018.05.002 [6] http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZLCY702.000.htm [7] http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZGXX199804004.htm [8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28877690 2