Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Jiaogulan) extract:
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (GpM) (Jiaogulan) has been widely used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of several diseases, including hepatitis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, GpM has recently been shown to exhibit potent anti-cancer activities. The general consensus from the literature is that GpM exerts its anti-cancer activities through multiple mechanisms, including cell cycle arrest, the induction of apoptosis, inhibition of invasion and metastasis, glycolysis inhibition and immunomodulation. (Taken from the review Anti-cancer effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino by (Jiaogulan) Yantao Li, Wanjun Lin, Jiajun Huang, Ying Xie and Wenzhe Ma*).
Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a plant distantly related to the cucumber. In traditional Asian medicine, it’s used to promote longevity. Today’s scientists have discovered why Asian doctors prescribed G. pentaphyllum to address age-related health issues: It promotes AMPK activation. G. pentaphyllum not only activates AMPK, but it also shuttles excess fats into the mitochondria to be utilized for energy and safe disposal. The result is efficient energy production and a sharp reduction in unnecessary fat storage. Results of G. pentaphyllum-induced AMPK activation include increased fat burning, as well as an increase in cellular glucose uptake. Extracts of G. pentaphyllum have other beneficial properties as well, including the ability to prolong cellular life in the face of stresses induced by oxidation, fat accumulation, and diabetes. When scientists began exploring the benefits of G. pentaphyllum for AMPK activation, they turned to animal studies. What they found was that leaf extracts of G.pentaphyllum activates AMPK, resulting in reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation.
Human studies have confirmed what many of the researchers had found in the lab: G. pentaphyllum boosts AMPK activity and provides important longevity benefits. In a compelling human study, type II diabetics who were not using diabetic medications drank a tea made with G. pentaphyllum.
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (jiaogulan), Chinese Herb of immortality. Is a slightly bitter herb, popular in Kombucha Tea as a natural energizer. Used a the Secret Russian Olympian Extract. Releases AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPk).
AMPk "master metabolic regulator" turns on fat-burning and energy-releasing metabolic processes.
Berberine HCl
Berberine, (Huang Lian) a bitter Chinese Herb is an Alkaloid.Activates AMPk often used in combination with Jiaogulan. lowers blood sugar. A Pre-Pro-biotic builds probiotics in the GI tract.
Emerging evidence has shown that berberine has a protective effect against metabolic syndromes such as obesity and type II diabetes mellitus by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK induces CD36 trafficking to the sarcolemma for fatty acid uptake and oxidation in contracting muscle.
Berberine is a plant alkaloid with anti-diabetic action. Activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway has been proposed as a mechanism for berberine’s action. It was found that in HepG2 hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes, berberine significantly increased glucose consumption and lactate release in a dose-dependent manner. AMPK and acetyl coenzyme A synthetase (ACC) phosphorylation were stimulated by 20 µmol/L berberine. Nevertheless, berberine was still effective in stimulating glucose utilization and lactate production, when the AMPK activation was blocked by (1) inhibition of AMPK activity by Compound C, (2) suppression of AMPKα expression by siRNA, and (3) blockade of AMPK pathway by adenoviruses containing dominant-negative forms of AMPKα1/α2. These results suggest that berberine promotes glucose metabolism by stimulating glycolysis, which probably results from the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, independent of AMPK activation. Berberine has been shown to have antidiabetic properties, although its mode of action is not known. Berberine reduced body weight and caused a significant improvement in glucose tolerance without altering food intake in db/db mice. Similarly, berberine reduced body weight and plasma triglycerides and improved insulin action in high-fat–fed Wistar rats. Berberine downregulated the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and upregulated those involved in energy expenditure in adipose tissue and muscle. Berberine treatment resulted in increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes, increased GLUT4 translocation in L6 cells in a phosphatidylinositol 3′ kinase-independent manner, and reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings suggest that berberine displays beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes and obesity at least in part via stimulation of AMPK activity.
Quercetin
Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules such as free radicals. Flavonoids are phenolic substances widely found in fruits and vegetables. Previous studies showed that the ingestion of flavonoids reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and certain types of cancer. These effects are due to the physiological activity of flavonoids in the reduction of oxidative stress, inhibiting low-density lipoproteins oxidation and platelet aggregation, and acting as vasodilators in blood vessels. Free radicals are constantly generated resulting in extensive damage to tissues and leading to various disease conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's, renal diseases, cardiac abnormalities, etc., Medicinal plants with antioxidant properties play a vital function in exhibiting beneficial effects and employed as an alternative source of medicine to mitigate the disease associated with oxidative stress. Flavonoids have existed for over one billion years and possess a wide spectrum of biological activities that might be able to influence processes that are dysregulated in disease. Quercetin, a plant pigment is a potent antioxidant flavonoid and more specifically a flavonol, found mostly in onions, grapes, berries, cherries, broccoli, and citrus fruits. It is a versatile antioxidant known to possess protective abilities against tissue injury induced by various drug toxicities. Quercetin is one of the important bioflavonoids present in more than twenty plants material and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, vasodilator effects, anti-obesity, anti-hypercholesterolemic, and anti-atherosclerotic activities. Free radicals are one of the key factors for the development of the diseases such as hypertension, vascular disorders, and metabolic syndrome.
Quercetin is an important flavonol among the members of six subclasses of flavonoid compounds. Quercetin a plant pigment (flavonoid). found in plants, foods, such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, berries, Ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort, elderberry, Quercetin (a flavonoid) antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory Prostate inflammation. heart conditions, People with untreated, mild high blood pressure may benefit from a decrease (5-7 mmHg).
Quercetin imparts its antidiabetic potential via activating multiple therapeutic targets of type 2 diabetes, and it follows AMPK-P38 MAPK pathway to induce glucose uptake in L6 myotubes.
