The Leaves of *Ampelopsis grossedentata*: Opportunities and Risks Unveiled by the Lifting of Restrictions?

In the blink of an eye, early summer has arrived. Against the backdrop of intense global market competition, the functional food and beverage sectors are presenting two starkly contrasting faces: on one side, the functional food industry—hampered by a dearth of innovative domestic ingredients—has reluctantly embarked on a cross-border e-commerce journey to source materials from abroad; on the other, the beverage market has enthusiastically embraced the concept of "medicine-food homology." This trend has sparked a surge of popular products, such as the *Liuwei Dihuang* (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia) drink—which raked in 100 million RMB in sales in just five months—the perpetually sold-out HPP Turmeric, Ginger, and Lemon drink, the wildly popular HeyTea Galangal, Licorice, and Guava beverage, and the market-leading Leyuan Apple and Astragalus Water. The rapid succession of such hot-selling items clearly reflects an explosive surge in the beverage market's demand for ingredients rooted in the tradition of medicine-food homology.

Fittingly, on May 27th, the National Health Commission delivered excellent news to the industry by officially lifting the 13-year-old regulatory "shackle" that had restricted the use of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaves. The approved scope of application for *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaves has now been expanded to include beverages, dairy-based drinks, confectionery, jellies, frozen desserts, chocolate products, cocoa products, alcoholic beverages, and candied fruits. For the market, this expansion of permissible applications undoubtedly represents a significant and highly positive development.

The reason is simple: *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf is a "super ingredient" whose efficacy has been thoroughly validated by tradition, market performance, and academic research. From a traditional perspective, the consumption history of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaves is extensive, dating back to the era of General Qi Jiguang's campaigns against Japanese pirates, when they were utilized to bolster soldiers' resistance to disease. From a market perspective, Dihydromyricetin—a key active compound found in *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaves—has already been registered as a pharmaceutical drug for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. Finally, from an academic perspective, there are currently over 1,500 published studies dedicated to the research of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaves.

Evidently, the expansion of the permissible applications for *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaves holds the potential to unlock immense market opportunities for both the functional food and beverage sectors.

For instance, within the functional food market, one could develop high-potency, small-format products—such as functional beverages in small bottles, multi-functional gummies, or pressed tablets. These could target specific market segments—such as those needing immediate relief after social engagements involving alcohol, those concerned with beauty and anti-aging, individuals managing uric acid levels, night owls, or specific groups with compromised immunity—aiming to resonate with consumers through tangible, perceptible effects.

In the broader beverage market, a blend of taurine and caffeine for stimulation—augmented by the addition of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf extract—could effectively cater to the dual needs of night-shift workers and competitive gamers: providing both an energy boost and health-promoting benefits.

Within the dining and hospitality sector, to address the common pain points associated with social drinking among friends, large-format, high-capacity products offer a way to reconcile social bonding with health consciousness. Formulating these into mixed drinks designed to accompany alcohol consumption—or even as low-alcohol functional spirits—presents a highly promising market opportunity.

For those who frequently work late or pull all-nighters, pairing milk with *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf extract could potentially offer a simultaneous solution to the practical challenges of maintaining both a light diet and a regimen of "light wellness." As for those who turn to comfort foods like ice cream or chocolate to cope with negative emotions, incorporating *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf extract into these treats might just help them begin to resolve their emotional burdens and embrace a brighter life. Of course, unlocking the full potential of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* applications will ultimately require the pioneering spirit of many more dedicated innovators...

The lifting of restrictions on *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf extracts has ushered in immense market opportunities—a prospect that is truly captivating. However, opportunity and crisis invariably go hand in hand; amidst this surging tide of opportunity, what exactly constitutes the underlying crisis?

The actual crisis lies within the *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf itself. It is a remarkable plant; upon drying, its entire surface becomes coated in a white substance. This white material—comprising *Ampelopsis grossedentata* polyphenols (primarily Dihydromyricetin)—represents the very source of the plant's value, yet it also constitutes the crisis itself. The specific challenges are as follows:

Crisis 1: Poor Water Solubility. *Ampelopsis grossedentata* polyphenols exhibit extremely low solubility, with only 11.5 mg (for an 85% purity extract) dissolving in 50 mL of water at 25°C. This directly precludes the development of mainstream product formats—such as beverages, dairy products, and gummies—thereby drastically shrinking the potential scope of application scenarios.

Crisis 2: Pronounced Bitterness and Low Consumer Acceptance. The polyphenols possess a distinct bitter and astringent profile; even trace amounts impart a noticeable bitterness, severely restricting the development of products in taste-sensitive categories such as beverages, alcoholic drinks, and dairy items.

Crisis 3: Extremely Low Bioavailability, Compromising Efficacy. Traditional Dihydromyricetin formulations exhibit an oral bioavailability of merely 4.02%, indicating a significantly low absorption efficiency.

Crisis 4: Low Bulk Density, Limiting Fill Volume. The polyphenols have a bulk density of only 0.19 g/mL, resulting in insufficient fill volumes for tablet and capsule dosage forms.

So, how can we effectively address this crisis?

A Technological Breakthrough! Rattanaise® *Ampelopsis grossedentata* Polyphenols: Dual "Hardcore" Technologies Conquer Key Pain Points.

Xi’an Hihealth has pioneered the innovative development of Rattanaise® *Ampelopsis grossedentata* Polyphenols. By integrating "High-Stability Inclusion Encapsulation Technology" with "High-Stability Microemulsification Technology," this solution achieves a 28.6-fold increase in raw material water solubility, a 70% reduction in bitterness and astringency, and a staggering 952% enhancement in bioavailability. With Rattanaise®, the performance of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* polyphenols has undergone a transformative, leapfrog-style upgrade.

1. Water Solubility Soars 28.6-Fold: Dissolves Clearly with No Sedimentation

The cold-water solubility of Rattanaise® *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf polyphenols reaches 2,000 mg/50 mL—a 28.6-fold improvement over traditional raw materials. Upon dissolution, the resulting solution remains crystal-clear, transparent, and free of both turbidity and sediment. Furthermore, after standing in an acidic aqueous solution for 12 months, the product retains an impressive 98.9% of its bioactivity, making it perfectly suited to meet the long shelf-life requirements of beverage products.

                                                                               Yellow loose powder                                                  2000mg/50ml

2. Bitterness and Astringency Reduced by 90% — Highly Palatable

Flavor evaluation data indicates that Rattanaise® *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf polyphenols exhibit a remarkable 90% reduction in bitterness and astringency compared to traditional raw materials, with no discernible off-flavors. This eliminates sensory barriers for various taste-sensitive product formats, such as beverages, gummies, and jellies.

3. Bioavailability Soars 9.52-Fold: High Efficacy at Low Inclusion Rates

Animal pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate that following the intragastric administration of an equivalent dose of Rattanaise® *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf polyphenols to SD rats, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) increased significantly, and bioavailability improved 9.52-fold compared to traditional raw materials.

4. Bulk Density Increased 4.5-fold — Preferred for Tablets and Capsules

                                                                       Brownish yellow loose particles                   Bulk density 0.85g/mL

The seal on *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf has been lifted. The functional foods market—starved for innovative ingredients—and the beverage industry—in need of high-quality botanicals with medicinal and dietary dual-use properties—are already poised for action, racing at full throttle toward the next blockbuster product. Rattanaise stands ready to join forces with you to collectively unlock the boundless potential of *Ampelopsis grossedentata* leaf polyphenols.