close
Choose Your Site
Global
Social Media
Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-06-22 Origin: Site
Vine tea (Nekemias grossedentata, synonym Ampelopsis grossedentata), also known as moyeam, tengcha, or "plum tea" in Chinese folk tradition, is a traditional medicine-food homology herbal tea native to the mountainous regions south of the Yangtze River in China. With a documented consumption history exceeding 600 years among the Tujia and other ethnic minorities, it has long been treasured as a natural health-promoting beverage. World-Way Biotech produces standardized vine tea powder and vine tea extract through an advanced fully automated intelligent manufacturing platform with an annual processing capacity exceeding 5,000 metric tons. Employing core technologies including ultrasound-assisted medium-temperature extraction, vacuum concentration, and spray drying, this ancient non-tea "tea" is transformed into a precisely quantifiable, high-quality functional food ingredient.
The hallmark bioactive constituent of vine tea is dihydromyricetin (DMY, also abbreviated DHM), a dihydroflavonol compound occurring at remarkably high concentrations of 30% to 40% in young vine tea leaves and stems — a level virtually unprecedented among natural flavonoid sources. In recent years, the global scientific community has systematically investigated DMY's multidimensional pharmacological activities, including alcohol detoxification and hepatoprotection, antioxidant defense, anti-inflammatory action, cardiovascular protection, and metabolic regulation, endowing this traditional folk herb with renewed vitality within a modern scientific framework.
Vine tea is a perennial climbing vine belonging to the Vitaceae (grape) family, naturally distributed across the deep mountain forests of central and southern China at elevations of 800 to 1,500 meters, with Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province serving as the core production region. The plant features glabrous stems and leaves, with young stems and foliage displaying a light reddish-purple hue. Leaves are thin, papery or herbaceous, oblong-elliptical to lanceolate in shape, with coarsely serrated margins. Average annual growth reaches approximately 0.7 to 0.8 meters, with peak production occurring in early summer and autumn.
The traditional processing method for vine tea was developed by the Tujia people approximately 600 years ago and comprises four core steps: plucking, withering, rolling, and fermentation. Freshly harvested leaves must be withered within five hours to prevent oxidative degradation of bioactive compounds. The rolling step imparts the tea's distinctive "white frost" coloration while enhancing flavor complexity. Unoxidized "white" vine tea is also produced, requiring more demanding processing conditions similar to those used in green tea production, and commands a higher market price. The resulting infusion possesses a slightly bitter taste that rapidly transforms into an intensely sweet aftertaste, distinguishing it from conventional teas and earning it the folk epithet "Immortal Herb" or "Fairy Grass."
World-Way Biotech's vine tea powder manufacturing is conducted entirely within Class 100,000 (ISO Class 8) cleanroom facilities, following four interconnected core technologies: ultrasound-assisted medium-temperature extraction for maximized flavonoid retention, vacuum concentration for low-temperature solvent removal, spray drying for rapid powder formation with preserved bioactivity, and three-dimensional mixing for batch homogeneity. The finished vine tea powder presents as a fine light brown to yellowish-brown powder with excellent aqueous solubility and broad processing compatibility.
Figure 1: Fresh vine tea leaves — Nekemias grossedentata, the richest natural source of dihydromyricetin (DMY)
The phytochemical foundation of vine tea centers on its extraordinarily enriched flavonoid complex, with dihydromyricetin (DMY) serving as the predominant and most biologically prominent signature compound. DMY is a dihydroflavonol with the chemical formula C15H12O8 (molecular weight 320.25), systematically named (2R,3R)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)chroman-4-one. Its B-ring pyrogallol-type trihydroxy substitution pattern confers exceptionally potent free radical scavenging capacity and metal-chelating activity.
Beyond DMY, vine tea contains an ensemble of complementary bioactive flavonoids including myricetin (the oxidized derivative of DMY, sharing similar antioxidant and anti-inflammatory profiles), isoquercitrin (exhibiting potent anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective effects), quercetin and its glycosides, and kaempferol. Notably, vine tea does not contain epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the hallmark catechin of green tea, fundamentally distinguishing its efficacy spectrum from that of conventional teas.
A 2025 study published in Analytical Methods, utilizing a Fe3O4@Ag@Pt nanozyme-based colorimetric sensing platform, established that hot water extraction at 90 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes maximizes total antioxidant capacity, while repeated brewing (two or more cycles) significantly diminishes antioxidant compound release, suggesting that single-stage high-efficiency extraction strategies are optimal for vine tea processing.
Figure 2: World-Way Biotech vine tea extract powder — fine, light brown to yellowish-brown powder
Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is widely recognized as the most characteristic and differentiating bioactive compound in vine tea, with its mechanisms in alcohol metabolism and liver protection thoroughly elucidated. DMY simultaneously enhances the catalytic activities of both alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in hepatocytes, markedly accelerating the breakdown and clearance of ethanol and its highly toxic intermediate metabolite acetaldehyde. Since acetaldehyde is the principal culprit behind hangover symptoms (headache, nausea, fatigue) and hepatocellular injury, DMY fundamentally alleviates alcohol-induced discomfort by accelerating its metabolic elimination.
At the molecular level, DMY activates AMPK signaling to suppress hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expression, thereby attenuating alcohol-induced de novo lipogenesis and hepatocellular lipid accumulation, effectively preventing the onset and progression of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Concurrently, DMY acts centrally to block ethanol's positive allosteric modulation of GABA-A receptors in the brain, counteracting alcohol-induced sedation and motor coordination impairment, facilitating faster recovery to sobriety.
A cutting-edge 2026 study published in Phytotherapy Research elucidated the protective mechanism of DMY against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). The research demonstrated that DMY targets and downregulates the expression of chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1), disrupting the signaling cascade involving CKLF1-CCR5 interaction and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, thereby suppressing NF-kappaB phosphorylation and Caspase-1-dependent cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, effectively preserving cardiomyocyte integrity. Crucially, in CKLF1-knockout rats, the anti-pyroptotic effect of DMY was abolished, confirming its pathway-dependent mechanism of action.
Another 2026 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences investigated vine tea aqueous extract (VTE) as an intervention for high-salt diet-induced hypertension. VTE restored microbial richness and diversity, enriched short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing taxa, and suppressed pathogenic Desulfovibrio and Ruminococcus torques populations. Untargeted plasma metabolomics further revealed that VTE normalized tryptophan, bile acid, and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathways, reduced the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate, and significantly lowered systolic blood pressure while ameliorating cardiac and renal histopathological injury in salt-loaded mice. The complete abolition of these protective effects under antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion confirmed the gut microbiota-dependent mechanism of action.
A 2025 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition provided the first systematic characterization of DMY's beta-cell protective effects in type 1 diabetes. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mice, 12-day DMY administration (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) followed by a 4-week observation period demonstrated significant reductions in fasting hyperglycemia, correction of dyslipidemia, and effective preservation of islet architecture. Untargeted UPLC-QTOF metabolomics combined with network pharmacology identified PI3K/AKT as the core signaling hub. Confirmatory experiments in INS-1 beta-cells verified that DMY directly binds and activates the PI3K/AKT pathway, restoring p-AKT levels, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and attenuating Caspase-3 cleavage, highlighting DMY's nutraceutical potential for the dietary management of autoimmune diabetes through lipid-inflammatory metabolic reprogramming and PI3K/AKT-dependent cytoprotection.
DMY's polyphenolic structure confers broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. As a polyhydroxy flavonoid, DMY scavenges reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) including superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and peroxynitrite, thereby interrupting lipid peroxidation chain reactions. Additionally, DMY inhibits the nuclear translocation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1, downregulating the expression of key inflammatory mediators including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and COX-2. In vitro and in vivo studies have also demonstrated antimicrobial activity of vine tea extracts against various foodborne pathogenic bacteria and fungi, providing a scientific foundation for potential applications as natural food preservatives.
Figure 3: Multi-target efficacy concept of vine tea — alcohol detoxification and hepatoprotection as the core, synergized with antioxidant, metabolic, and cardiovascular benefits
Vine tea powder and vine tea extract represent a rapidly ascending emerging category in the global functional food and dietary supplement market. Based on DMY's unique efficacy spectrum, terminal application scenarios are highly concentrated in the following tracks: alcohol detoxification and hangover relief functional beverages and supplements (including ready-to-drink formulations, sachets, and capsules); liver health management nutraceuticals (targeting chemical, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic fatty liver conditions); antioxidant and anti-aging functional foods; and weight management and metabolic syndrome intervention products.
Regarding finished dosage form applications, vine tea powder exhibits excellent processing adaptability, supporting flexible development into solid beverage sachets, ready-to-drink liquid beverages, hard capsules, tablets/pressed candies, and functional tea bag formats. The recommended daily dose, calculated on a DMY basis, typically ranges from 200 to 500 mg, adjustable according to specific end-product positioning and target population requirements.
From a market perspective, with China's vast alcoholic beverage consumer base and the strategic policy orientation of "Healthy China 2030" toward liver health management, the DMY-centered alcohol detoxification and liver protection product segment presents significant blue-ocean characteristics and growth potential. World-Way Biotech, supported by its comprehensive global top-tier certification framework encompassing FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, KOSHER, and HALAL, delivers one-stop solutions from raw material to finished product for international clients.
Based on dihydromyricetin (DMY)'s pharmacological action spectrum, vine tea powder is precisely positioned for the following core consumer segments:
1. Frequent Alcohol Consumers and Social Drinkers: Business professionals and socially active individuals seeking hangover relief and prevention of alcohol-induced liver injury.
2. Liver Health-Conscious Individuals: Those with irregular sleep patterns, at risk of chemical or drug-induced liver injury, with fatty liver conditions or abnormal hepatic function markers.
3. Metabolic Syndrome Populations: Consumers concerned with glycemic and lipid regulation and weight management.
4. Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Seekers: Health-conscious consumers aiming to mitigate oxidative damage through natural flavonoid supplementation.
Safety Note: Vine tea has been consumed as a traditional folk beverage for centuries. Current research has not reported significant DMY toxicity at recommended dosage levels. However, pregnant and lactating women and infants are advised to avoid consumption. Long-term high-dose safety data await further accumulation.
Emerging research directions for vine tea and DMY warrant particular attention. Preclinical studies are exploring DMY's neuroprotective potential through blood-brain barrier penetration and modulation of neuroinflammatory pathways relevant to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Additionally, DMY's demonstrated AMPK activation capacity positions it as a candidate for metabolic syndrome interventions extending beyond glycemic control to encompass lipid metabolism, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and obesity-related comorbidities. These frontier applications, while still at the investigational stage, underscore the substantial untapped potential of this uniquely Chinese botanical resource on the global nutraceutical stage.
The manufacturing quality infrastructure at World-Way Biotech ensures batch-to-batch consistency across all vine tea powder specifications. Advanced analytical instrumentation including HPLC for DMY quantification, GC-MS for pesticide residue screening, ICP-MS for heavy metal analysis, and comprehensive microbial limit testing are deployed at every stage from raw material receiving to finished product release. The company's adherence to FSSC 22000, the most demanding Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-recognized certification scheme, provides international clients with the highest level of supply chain assurance.
In the comparative landscape, vine tea occupies a unique niche distinct from both conventional green tea and milk thistle (silymarin), the current market leader in liver health supplements. While silymarin primarily targets hepatocyte membrane stabilization, DMY offers the additional advantage of dual alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activation (ADH and ALDH) combined with direct central nervous system intervention to counteract alcohol-induced sedation. This multi-mechanism profile positions vine tea extract as a highly differentiated ingredient in the rapidly growing hangover prevention and recovery supplement category, which is projected to exceed USD 4 billion globally by 2030.
Vine tea, the "Immortal Herb" rooted in six centuries of Tujia folk wisdom, emerges under modern scientific illumination with dihydromyricetin (DMY) as its core bioactive vehicle, demonstrating robust multi-dimensional efficacy evidence across alcohol detoxification and hepatoprotection, antioxidant defense, cardiovascular protection, and glycolipid metabolic regulation. Leveraging fully automated intelligent manufacturing and a global top-tier certification framework, World-Way Biotech standardizes vine tea into a precisely quantifiable, high-quality functional food ingredient, delivering a "science-driven, tradition-empowered" differentiated natural solution to global brand partners and R&D collaborators. In an era of sustained expansion in the liver health management market, vine tea powder journeys from the deep mountains to the global stage, composing a new chapter where folk wisdom and modern science illuminate one another.
Looking forward, as DMY nanoencapsulation delivery technologies (enhancing oral bioavailability), structural modifications (such as DMY prodrug design), and multi-component synergistic formulation research continue to advance, the application boundaries of vine tea extracts are poised for expansion into higher-value-added domains including central neuroprotection (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease) and cancer chemoprevention. World-Way Biotech cordially invites global partners to jointly unlock the limitless potential of this uniquely valuable botanical resource.
