Jiaogulan Extract for HorsesJiaogulan (pronounced Je-ow-gu-laan), also known as Gynostemma pentaphyllum or J-herb is a climbing vine used in horses to support circulation, respiratory health, and muscle function.

Jiaogulan powder has medicinal properties that are similar to Panax Ginseng. This herb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to promote vitality. Research shows it may have a similar beneficial effect in horses.

The leaves of the jiaogulan plant contain active ingredients that increase nitric oxide levels in the blood which stimulates blood flow. This helps enhance energy levels, deliver nutrients, oxygen, and immune cells to tissues, and clear away waste products.

In horses, improved blood flow helps tissues like the hooves, tendons, lungs, and muscles recover from illness or damage. By enhancing circulation, jiaogulan can support healthy hooves in horses that are prone to laminitis.

Jiaogulan may also promote respiratory function through increased blood flow and bronchodilation (opening of the airways). Horses with heaves and inflammatory airway disease have been shown to benefit from supplementation with this herb.

Combining jiaogulan with spirulina has been shown to improve respiratory function and exercise performance in equine athletes.

Increasing nitric oxide levels may also support healthy joints and connective tissues, recovery from tendon and ligament injuries, and help to alleviate a stiff gait.

At the doses recommended for horses, jiaogulan is safe with no known toxicity issues or side effects. Horses receiving jiaogulan often have pinker gums and tongue, indicating that an adequate amount has been fed to increase blood flow.

Mad Barn’s bulk Jiaogulan powder contains pure Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves with no added ingredients. The typical serving size is 2 grams given twice daily. This product should be introduced slowly to minimize avoidance.

Jiaogulan

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  • Supports circulation
  • Promotes hoof health
  • Supports muscle performance
  • Used in laminitic horses

Benefits of Jiaogulan in Horses

Jiaogulan works primarily by increasing the production of nitric oxide from vascular endothelial cells that line the walls of the horse’s blood vessels. Higher levels of nitric oxide circulating in the blood results in dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow.

Most of the health benefits attributed to jiaogulan come from its ability to increase blood flow. Several debilitating conditions in horses like laminitis are partly caused by poor blood flow. [1]

Below are the top 10 benefits of Jiaogulan in horses:

1) Supports hoof health

The Jiaogulan herb has been shown to improve hoof health in horses with chronic lameness. Decreased blood flow to the hooves has been proposed as one of the factors that contributes to hoof problems in horses.

Increased levels of the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 have been documented in chronic laminitis, carbohydrate overload and endocrinopathic laminitis. [11][12][13]

Gypenosides are active ingredients in jiaogulan that stimulate blood flow by activating the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to produce nitric oxide. This supports overall hoof health by increasing delivery of oxygen and nutrients to hooves.

2) Reduces lameness

Jiaogulan is recommended as a natural remedy for laminitic horses. Increasing blood flow to the hoof in horses with laminitis can reduce lameness and reduce the “bounding pulses” at the sides of the pastern. [1][2]

In one study, horses were given 1-2 grams of Jiaogulan per 500 kg of bodyweight twice per day. They showed better mental alertness and increased spontaneous movement.

The majority of horses returned to pasture soundness within just 2 days to 2 weeks of starting on the supplement and improvement in lameness scores. [3]

3) Supports horses with navicular syndrome

Horses prone to navicular syndrome characterized by structural issues of the navicular bone and surrounding soft tissues might benefit from Jiaogulan supplementation.

It could help slow the progression of lameness and ease pain in horses with poor conformation such as long toes and underrun heels.

Gynostemma assists the body’s normal counterregulatory homeostatic responses to inflammation by moderating the activity of the iNOS enzyme system. iNOS is inflammatory nitric oxide and it’s activation is part of the inflammatory response to tissue damage. [14]

4) Supports insulin sensitivity

Horses with insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, or Cushing’s disease (PPID) are often given jiaogulan to help support hoof health and encourage good hoof growth.

Dr. Kellon reports that in horses known to have high levels of insulin in the blood suggesting insulin resistance, jiaogulan improved lameness scores and movement during walking.

In other animals, this plant has been shown to have antidiabetic effects by improving insulin sensitivity and supporting a healthy weight. [3][4][5]

5) Maintains healthy connective tissue

Jiaogulan can support healthy connective tissue like tendons and ligaments. DSLD/ESPA is a progressive, degenerative form of lameness due to weakening of ligaments throughout the body.

This might occur in horses with Cushing’s disease but more frequently it is due to genetic abnormalities. This condition was initially thought to be more common in Peruvian Pasos and Paso crosses but has since been found in most breeds.

Dr. Kellon suggests that increasing nitric oxide levels can support healing and slow down the progression of DSLD/ESPA. Nitric oxide has been shown to play an integral role in tendon and ligament healing. [15] Jiaogulan can be given alone or in combination with L-arginine or arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG) and L-citrulline which also increase nitric oxide production. [6]

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6) Supports respiratory function

Jiaogulan can be combined with spirulina to support respiratory function in horses and aid in bronchodilation.

The combination of 2 grams jiaogulan and 20 grams of spirulina, given twice per day can help minimize coughing, headshaking, snorting, and sneezing that are often associated with poor respiratory health.

Horses with seasonal allergies or inflammatory airway disease show improved symptoms within a few weeks to months of jiaogulan and spirulina supplementation. [3]

7) Supports exercise performance

By supporting respiratory function, jiaogulan can improve exercise performance in competitive horses. A horse with chronic cough during exercise had normalized respiratory recovery after just the first dose of 2 grams jiaogulan given twice per day.

The improved respiratory function during exercise resulted in faster training times and rapid respiratory recovery after training. Similar benefits are also seen when combined with 20 grams spirulina given twice per day. [3]

8) Supports stress resistance

Jiaogulan is considered an adaptogen meaning it can alter the stress response to disease, infection, or exercise. The saponins within jiaogulan can potentially dampen the response to stress and lower epinephrine and cortisol release from adrenal glands.

A double-blinded, placebo-controlled human trial found that it “has a positive effect on resistance to exercise-induced physical and mental fatigue.” [16]

More research is needed to understand this effect in horses. It is possible that by lowering cortisol levels during stressful situations, jiaogulan could support mood, ease of handling, and anxiety in horses.

This could be particularly beneficial for horses in competition that can experience stress and anxiety during transportation and competition. [3]

9) Provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits

Horses might benefit from the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this herb. The gypenosides found in jiaogulan can protect cells of in the immune system, liver, and blood vessels from damage due to oxidative stress.

In humans, it has been shown to increase levels of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase and decrease indicators of oxidative stress both during infection and aging. [17]

By supporting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant status, jiaogulan helps keeps cells and tissues healthy which might be observed as less frequent illness and better recovery to exercise. [6]

10) Could support gastric health

The saponins in jiaogulan could be used to support healthy gut function. In animals with gastric ulcers due to NSAID treatment, jiaogulan extract supports gastric mucous production and secretion.

This effect has not been directly assessed in horses but results in other animal studies suggest that including this herb in the horse’s diet could help support mucous production in the stomach and protect cells lining the stomach from acid damage. [7]

Signs That Your Horse Might Benefit From Jiaogulan

Jiaogulan has broad benefits for hoof health, respiratory function, and connective tissue, meaning that most horses could benefit from supplementation with this herb.

In particular, horses that are prone to laminitis, chronic respiratory issues or seasonal allergies can be given Jiaogulan to support blood flow to the hooves and lungs.

Horses may develop laminitis for a variety of reasons, including seasonal changes in the forage/grasses, gastrointestinal illness, and infections in the body. Jiaogulan is not a cure and is unlikely to prevent laminitis if the primary causes remain present.

Addressing the diet as a whole and having proper hoof care in place are the most important factors to support healthy hooves in horses.

Dr. Kellon notes that Jiaogulan will likely not be beneficial for hoof health if the primary cause of laminitis is not treated. For example, horses with uncontrolled insulin resistance are less likely to benefit from supplementation for improved hoof health unless additional measures are implemented to first improve insulin sensitivity.

Before making changes to your horse’s diet, it is recommended to have their diet reviewed by a qualified equine nutritionist. You can submit your horse’s diet for analysis online for a complementary review by a member of the Mad Barn team.

Horses that are more tired than normal or reluctant to exercise might benefit from the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of jiaogulan to support their general well-being and from adaptogenic effects increasing their resistance to fatigue induced by physical or mental stress.

Seasonal respiratory allergies to dust and pollen, or allergic hypersensitivity to insect bites known as “sweet itch” are signs that improved anti-inflammatory or antioxidant status could be helpful.

Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis

Anecdotal evidence suggests the combination of jiaogulan and AAKG (arginine alpha-ketoglutarate) can support connective tissue function in horses with DSLD (degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis) also known as ESPA (equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation).

It might help ease the pain and slow the progression of this disease. Early detection of DSLD is crucial to helping your horse live comfortably with this condition.

Early signs of DSLD include:

  • Unexplained stumbling and tripping
  • A stiff gait that is worsening over time
  • Changes in behaviour including laying down more frequently and not wanting to rise
  • You might observe your horse digging holes and standing with their toes pointed toward the hole
  • Heat and swelling in the fetlock area
  • Showing signs of pain when touched in the suspensory ligament area
  • Thickening of the suspensory ligament

In advanced cases, the fetlocks will drop or become more upright. The hooves become “coon-footed”. The hind legs become very straight and the angle of the croup drops.

To diagnose DSLD, veterinarians can use a combination of clinical signs, blood tests, and ultrasounds of the tendons and ligaments. Management changes like exercise on alternating days, constant turnout, and a well-balanced barefoot trim could be beneficial for horses with DLSD.

Active Ingredients in Jiaogulan

The leaves and seeds of jiaogulan contain many active ingredients that have beneficial effects on health.

Active ingredients include: [8]

  • Various compounds called “saponins” are found in jiaogulan seeds and leaves. The two most abundant saponins in jiaogulan are gypenosides and phanoside [9]
  • Polysaccarides with unique anti-inflammatory properties
  • Chlorogenic acids
  • Quercetin
  • Flavonoids

How to Use Jiaogulan in Horses

Jiaogulan is typically fed in amounts ranging from 2-7 grams twice a day for a 500 kg horse. It is commonly combined with spirulina, arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG) or chasteberry.

When used in conjunction with spirulina, a recommended serving size is 20 grams of spirulina powder for a 500 kg horse, given twice daily.

It is recommended to start with a low dose of jiaogulan powder and gradually increase the feeding rate over time. Vasodilation of the gums and tongue can be used to determine the correct dose. Pinker gums and tongue indicate that blood flow has improved and you have found the appropriate dose of jiaogulan for your horse.

Be careful when using this herb with any other products that have vasodilatory effects, such as isoxsupine – a drug used to increase blood flow to the hooves. Consult with your veterinarian about which product is appropriate for your horse.

Horses with laminitis might have draining abscesses during the first 1-2 weeks of jiaogulan supplementation. This is because there are often pools of blood and immune cells within the hoof that need to drain out to allow the hoof to heal.

Jiaogulan helps mobilize these abscesses, causing them to surface and drain. Frequent soaking of the hooves with warm water and epsom salts can help keep the area clean and aid in draining of the abscess.

Case Reports in Horses

Most of the evidence from horses is gathered from anecdotal reports rather than scientific publications. Dr. Eleanor Kellon, a veterinarian and founder of the ECIR group, reports on using jiaogulan and spirulina to support respiratory health in horses. [3]

In one case, an 8-year-old Warmblood event horse was given 2000 mg Jiaogulan and 20 grams of Spirulina twice daily.

After just two days, her respiratory recovery after exercise was normal and the chronic cough she experienced during exercise stopped within a week. The mare continued to be symptom free when she was re-evaluated after 6 months of daily use of this herbal combination.

Another case involved a 4-year-old Standardbred gelding with inflammatory airway disease diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage showing high numbers of inflammatory mast cells.

This horse had declining performance at the end of races and poor respiratory recovery which was improved by clenbuterol. Seasonal allergies were also evident by headshaking, snorting and sneezing beginning in early April along with occasional coughing.

Giving 1000 mg jiaogulan and 10 grams spirulina twice per day only partly resolved these symptoms. When the dose was increased to 2000 mg Jiaogulan and 20 grams Spirulina twice per day the headshaking and sneezing stopped, and respiratory recovery rates normalized.

After taking these supplements, the gelding had stronger last quarters in races and improved his speed by one second.

Jiaogulan has also been fed alone and shown to have beneficial effects. In one case, a standardbred filly had frothy nasal discharge and poor respiratory recovery after work. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was consistent with inflammatory airway disease. Her race times per mile never went under 2:27.

With 2000 mg jiaogulan given 30 minutes to 1.5 hours before exercise, her respiratory recovery normalized after a single dose. Following two days of supplementation, her training time improved to 2:25 and further improved to 2:21 after five days of supplementation.

To determine whether jiaogulan supplementation is appropriate for your horse, it is recommended to consult with a qualified equine nutritionist. Submit your horse’s diet for evaluation using our online form and one of our equine nutritionists will be happy to help.

Jiaogulan

5 stars
85%
4 stars
2%
3 stars
5%
2 stars
4%
1 star
4%

Learn More

  • Supports circulation
  • Promotes hoof health
  • Supports muscle performance
  • Used in laminitic horses

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References

  1. Hinckley, KA et al. Nitric oxide donors as treatment for grass induced acute laminitis in ponies. Equine Vet J. 1996.
  2. Tanner, Miles A. et al. The Direct Release of Nitric Oxide by Gypenosides Derived from the Herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Nitric Oxide. 1999.
  3. Kellon, Eleanor. Use of the Herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum and the Blue-green Algae Spirulina Platensis in Horses. Equine Congress. 2006.
  4. Huyen, VTT et al. Gynostemma pentaphyllum Tea Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. J Nutr Metab. 2013.
  5. Liu, Jie et al Gypenosides Reduced the Risk of Overweight and Insulin Resistance in C57BL/6J Mice through Modulating Adipose Thermogenesis and Gut Microbiota. J Agri Food Chem. 2017.
  6. Kellon, EleanorAny suggestions for DSLD?. Uckele Health & Nutriton. 2019.
  7. Rujjanawate, C et al. The anti-gastric ulcer effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino. Phytomedicine. 2003.
  8. Blythe, Eugene et al. Characterization of volatile and polar compounds of Jiaogulan Tea. Asian J Chem. 2017.
  9. Norberg, Ake et al. A Novel Insulin-releasing Substance, Phanoside, from the Plant Gynostemma pentaphyllum. J Biol Chem. 2004.
  10. Wang, Zhaojing et al. Antioxidant activities of different fractions of polysaccharide purified from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino. Carb Poly. 2007.
  11. Gauff, F. et al. Hyperinsulinaemia increases vascular resistance and endothelin-1 expression in the equine digit. Equine Vet J. 2013.
  12. Eades, S.C. et al. Serial alterations in digital hemodynamics and endothelin-1 immunoreactivity, platelet-neutrophil aggregation, and concentrations of nitric oxide, insulin, and glucose in blood obtained from horses following carbohydrate overload. Am J Vet Res. 2007.
  13. Katwa, L.C. et al. Expression of endothelin in equine laminitis. Equine Vet J. 1999.
  14. Shen, C-Y. et al. Comparison of the Effects and Inhibitory Pathways of the Constituents from Gynostemma pentaphyllum against LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response. J Agric Food Chem. 2018.
  15. Bokhari, A.R. and Murrell, G.A.C. The role of nitric oxide in tendon healing. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012.
  16. Ahn, Y. et al. Effects of gypenoside L-containing Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract on fatigue and physical performance: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Phytother Res. 2023.
  17. Mishra, R.N. and Joshi, D. Jiao Gu Lan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum): The Chinese Rasayan- Current Research Scenario. Int J Res Pharma Biomed Sci. 2011.