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Chemical Quality of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino Thai and Chinese Cultivars
Cultivated in Thailand
Warunee Jirawattanapong, Puritat Rattanasiri, Thanawat Thongchin, Thidarat Boonruad
Medicinal Plant Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences, Tiwanond Road, Nonthaburi 11000
Panchakhan or Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Cucurbitaceae) is of interest as a potential
crude drug. It possesses various activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-lipemic, anti-inflammatory and inhibiting
nitric oxide synthesis; G. pentaphyllum is cultivated for commercial purposes in Thailand from native or Thai
and Chinese cultivars. Since both cultivars contain similar active constituents, dammarane-type saponins,
called gypenosides to distinguish one from the other, the chemical aspects of G. pentaphyllum between Thai
and Chinese cultivars purchased from northern and northeastern regions of Thailand were examined. It was
found that they had similar color reaction and froth test, but the TLC fingerprints were different. In addition,
the other characteristic properties of both cultivars were also similar.
Key words: Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, chemical quality, chemical identification,
Thai cultivars, Chinese cultivars
