The acute toxicity of gynostema pentaphyllum (Thunb) makino has been tested in mice at the dose 50g/per kg of body weight and the semi acute toxicity have been tested in rabbit. The results of experiment showed that the plant was not toxic and could be used for a long time (1 month) safely without any effect on biochemical and haematological indices
Gynostemma ; Utilization ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; therapeutics

Background: \u2018Giao co lam\u2019 (Jiaogulan), a valuable medicinal plant is considered ginseng for the poor. However, there were difficulties in planting and collecting because of its biodiversity. Objectives: Study on the biodiversity of various species of the Gynostemma Blume genus in Cao Bang province in order to classify species in this genus. Subjects and method: The samples of medicinal plant \u2018giao co lam\u2019 (Jiaogulan) in Cao Bang have been collected, described and identified scientific name. Results: These samples were identified with scientific names and classified based on both morphological and DNA characters. As a result, \u2018giao co lam\u2019 (Jiaogulan) in Cao Bang, belongs to two species: G. pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino and G. laxum (Wall.) Cogn. The species G. pentaphyllum can be divided into two varieties, including: G. pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino var. 1 and Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino var. 2. Conclusion: The quantity of active material in each varieties of these species might be different, so further study is required on the medicinal plant \u2018giao co lam\u2019 not only in Cao Bang but also the rest of Vietnam.
Gynostemma Blume ; giao cao lam ; Jiaogulan ; biodiversity

The present study aimed to investigate the composition of the terpene synthase(TPS) gene family in Gynostemma pentaphyllum and its role in abiotic stresses. The G. pentaphyllum TPS gene family was identified and analyzed at the genome-wide level using bioinformatics analysis, and the expression patterns of these family members were analyzed in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum as well as under various abiotic stresses. The results showed that there were 24 TPS gene family members in G. pentaphyllum with protein lengths ranging from 294 to 842 aa. All of them were localized in the cytoplasm or chloroplasts and unevenly distributed on the 11 chromosomes of G. pentaphyllum. The results of the phylogenetic tree showed that the G. pentaphyllum TPS gene family members could be divided into five subfamilies. As revealed by the analysis of promoter cis-acting elements, TPS gene family members in G. pentaphyllum were predicted to respond to a variety of abiotic stresses such as salt, low temperature, and dark stress. The analysis of gene expression patterns in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum revealed that nine TPS genes were tissue-specific in expression. The qPCR results showed that GpTPS16, GpTPS17, and GpTPS21 responded to a variety of abiotic stresses. This study is expected to provide references in guiding the further exploration of the biological functions of G. pentaphyllum TPS genes under abiotic stresses.
Gynostemma ; Phylogeny ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; Chloroplasts

In response to no national standard for Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a market survey was carried out, and 17 batches of gypenosides extract and 29 batches of Gypenosides Tablets on the market were collected. With gypenoside A as an index, the TLC qualitative identification and HPLC quantitative evaluation method of gypenosides extract and tablets was established. Based on the determination results of 17 batches of gypenosides extract and 29 batches of Gypenosides Tablets, the quality standards of gypenosides extract and tablets were formulated respectively, so as to give suggestions for improving the quality standards of gypenosides extract and tablets. Compared with the existing ministerial standards, the qualitative identification and quantitative detection of specific components were added, in order to provide scientific basis and suggestions for the revision of the quality standard of gypenosides extract and tablet preparation.
Gynostemma ; Plant Extracts ; Reference Standards ; Tablets

One new and two known dammarane-type saponins were isolated from the leaves of Gynostemma pentaphyllum using various chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by HR-ESI-MS,~( 1)H-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, 2 D-NMR spectra as 2α,3β,12β,20,24(S)-tetrahdroxydammar-25-en-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(1, a new compound, namely gypenoside J5) and 2α,3β,12β,20,24(R)-tetrahdroxydammar-25-en-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(2) and 2α,3β,12β,20-tetrahydroxy-25-hydroperoxy-dammar-23-en-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-glucopy-ranoside(3), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were a pair of C-24 epimers. All compounds showed weak cytotoxicity agxinst H1299, HepG2, PC-3, SH-SY5 Y cancer cell lines. However, they exerted protective effect against SH-SY5 Y cellular damage induced by H_2O_2 dose-dependently, of which compound 1 displayed the strongest antioxidant effect. The present study suggested that G. pentaphyllum has antioxidative potential and the saponins from G. pentaphyllum are considered as the active compounds with neuroprotecitve effect.
Gynostemma ; Molecular Structure ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology*

Heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum has strong biological activity, and saponins are the main components. To investigate the changes of saponins in G. pentaphyllum before and after heat processing, the present study determined and analyzed the content of nine saponins in G. pentaphyllum from Zhangzhou of Fujian and Jinxiu of Guangxi by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Trap-MS). The separation of the analytes was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7 μm) at 30 ℃, with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water as the mobile phase by gradient elution, and the flow rate was 0.3 mL·min~(-1). Quantitative analysis was performed using electrospray ionization source(ESI) in the multiple reaction-monitoring(MRM) mode. The results showed that the content of saponins with biological activities increased after heat processing. Specifically, gypenoside L, gypenoside LI, damulin A, damulin B, ginsenoside Rg_3(S), and ginsenoside Rg_3(R) in G. pentaphyllum produced in Zhangzhou of Fujian increased by 7.369, 8.289, 12.155, 7.587, 0.929, and 1.068 μg·g~(-1), respectively, while the content of ginsenoside Rd, gypenoside LVI, and gypenoside XLVI, which were abundant in the raw materials, decreased by 0.779, 19.37, and 9.19 μg·g~(-1), respectively. The content of gypenoside L, gypenoside LI, damulin A, damulin B, ginsenoside Rg_3(S), and ginsenoside Rg_3(R) in G. pentaphyllum produced in Jinxiu of Guangxi increased by 0.100, 0.161, 0.317, 0.228, 3.280, and 3.395 μg·g~(-1), respectively, while the content of ginsenoside Rd, gypenoside LVI, and gypenoside XLVI in the raw materials was reduced by 1.661, 0.014, and 0.010 μg·g~(-1), respectively. The results suggest that heat processing is an effective way to transform rare gypenosides. Furthermore, it is found that there are great differences in the content of gypenosides in different regions.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Gynostemma ; Hot Temperature ; Saponins

This study was designed to explore the potential of gypenosides as a novel natural stabilizer for the production of nanosuspensions. The gypenosides-stabilized quercetin nanosuspensions(QUE-NS) were prepared using the high-speed shearing and high-pressure homogenization method with quercetin as a model drug, followed by their in vitro evaluation.Based on the measured mean particle size and polydispersity index(PDI) of QUE-NS,the single factor experiment was conducted to optimize the preparation process parameters.The freeze-drying method was used to transform QUE-NS into freeze-dried powders, whose storage stability and saturation solubility were then studied.Moreover, the effects of pH and ionic strength on the physical stability of the nanosuspension system were examined.According to the results, the optimized process parameters were listed as follows: shear rate 13 000 r·min~(-1),shear time 2 min, homogenization pressure 100 MPa, and homogenization frequency 12 times.The mean particle size of QUE-NS prepared under the optimum process conditions was(461.9±2.4) nm, and the PDI was 0.059±0.016.During the two months of storage at room temperature, the freeze-dried QUE-NS powders remained stable.The saturation solubility of freeze-dried QUE-NS powders was proved higher than those of quercetin and the physical mixture.The results of stability testing demonstrated that QUE-NS stabilized with gypenosides exhibited good stability within the pH range of 6 to 8,while coalescence was prone to occur in the presence of salt.Overall, gypenosides is expected to become a new natural stabilizer for the preparation of nanosuspensions.
Drug Stability ; Gynostemma ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Plant Extracts ; Powders ; Quercetin ; Solubility ; Suspensions

To investigate the differences of chemical compositions in Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves prepared by different processing methods. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to compare the chemical compositions between shade-dried processing and drum-dried processing. Forty six gypenosides were identified by control comparison， liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MSn) fragmentation information， and literature data. The mass spectral peak area statistics was combined with principal component analysis(PCA)， and the results showed that eight batches of Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves samples were divided into two groups according to the two different processing methods; ten chemical compositions with significant differences were screened according to mass spectrum information combined with partial least-squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA). The result showed that most parent nucleus of the gypenosides contained three to four glycosides in drum-dried samples， and one to two glycosides in the shade-dried samples. It was inferred from further MS analysis that desugarization of gypenosides was present to produce secondary glycosides with the effect of glucosidase in the shade-drying， thus resulting in difference in compositions. This study provided data support for harvesting， processing and quality control of Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Gynostemma ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

The Qinling-Daba Mountains area is the main producing areas of Gynostemma longipes for medicinal usage, and samples of wild whole plants in Pingli, Shaanxi Province and Qingchuan, Sichuan Province were collected. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E) was used to profile the chemical compositions and analyze the similarities and differences of G. longipes samples in these areas. Based on the accurate molecular weight and fragment information obtained from Q-TOF-MS~E, the structures of the main components were identified by combining with the mass spectra, chromatographic behaviors of reference standards and related literatures. The results showed that the components of wild G. longipes from different places among Qinling-Daba Mountains area were similar. Forty-five chemical components were identified in the whole plant of G. longipes from Pingli, Shaanxi Province, including 43 triterpenoid saponins and 2 flavonoids which contain all main peaks in its fingerprint. The main components are dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, such asgypenoside ⅩLⅨ, gypenoside A and its malonylated product of glycosyl.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Gynostemma ; Mass Spectrometry ; Saponins

The present study explored the mechanism of action of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in the treatment of metabolism associa-ted fatty liver disease(MAFLD) by network pharmacology and molecular docking. The main active components and action targets of G. pentaphyllum were collected from TCMSP. Disease-related targets were obtained from GeneCards, OMIM and TTD, and the common targets of the three databases were screened out, which were converted to the genes with standard names by UniProt. The drug-disease common target genes were obtained through Venn tool and uploaded to STRING for the construction of the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network. Cytoscape was used to construct and analyze the drug-active component-common target-disease network. The gene ontology(GO) analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the common targets by DAVID. Pymol was adopted to perform molecular docking of active components and the common targets and predict their binding ability. Twenty-four active components(such as gypenosides, quercetin and sitosterol) of G. pentaphyllum were screened out. Ninety-two targets were obtained and 54 common targets were identified. Key targets included TNF, IL6, PTGS2, TP53, CCL2 and VEGFA. GO analysis on biological processes, molecular functions and cellular components and KEGG pathway analysis were performed, and the results indicated that NF-κB, PI3 K-Akt, TNF and HIF-1 signaling pathways were mainly involved. Molecular docking results showed that gypenosides and quercetin had a strong binding ability to TNF, IL6 and PTGS2. The findings of this study revealed that the therapeutic efficacy of G. pentaphyllum on MAFLD might be achieved by resisting inflammation and oxidative stress and improving insulin resistance, providing ideas and a theoretical basis for the development and application of G. pentaphyllum in the treatment of MAFLD.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Gynostemma ; Liver Diseases ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Signal Transduction