Kimura Y., Okuda H., Arichi S., Takemoto T. Effects of crude saponins of Gynostemma Pentaphyllum on lipid metabolism. Shoyakugaku Zasshi 1983

In this study at Ehime University in Japan, researchers fed rats a diet high in fat and sugar. They gave the test group saponins derived from Jiaogulan. The rats that received the extract from Jiaogulan had lower tri-glycerides, lipid peroxide and total cholesterol.