IngredientsSiraitia grosvenorii, also known as monk fruit, Swingle fruit, or in Chinese luo han guo (罗漢果; pinyin: luóhàn guǒ), is a herbaceous perennial vine of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, native to southern China. Among the species of its genus, it is perhaps the most famous — a perennial herbaceous vine native to the southern parts of China, mainly in Guangxi and Hunan Provinces.
Common or trade names for the fruit and its extracts include: Luo Han Guo (LHG), Lo Han Guo, Lor Hon Kor, Siraitia grosvenori (Swingle) fruit, Lo Han Kuo, Arhat Fruit, Fructus Momordicae, Momordicae Grosvenorii Fructus, monk fruit, magic fruit, and longevity fruit. The Chinese name luo han guo means "arhat fruit"; in Buddhism, an arhat is a monk who has attained enlightenment.
The genus name Siraitia was named by American botanist Elmer Drew Merrill for his colleague Sirait Sawek, a Thai botanist who collected specimens in Southeast Asia. The species name grosvenorii honors Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, who, as president of the National Geographic Society, helped to fund an expedition in the 1930s to find the living plant in China where it was already being cultivated.
The shape of the fruits is ovoid, oval, or spherical; the surface is brown, yellowish brown, or greenish brown, with yellow soft hairs; the texture is crisp and tender, and the taste is sweet. The fruit contains 25–38% of various carbohydrates, mainly fructose and glucose.
Monk fruit is commercially available in several distinct forms:
S. grosvenorii has been used as an herbal medicine in China for more than two hundred years, possessing the efficacies of clearing heat, moistening the lung, clearing the throat, restoring the voice, and promoting bowel movements, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, as recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Because Luo Han Guo was historically a regional folk remedy of Guangxi rather than a mainstream item in the classical herbal tradition, its earliest recorded references come from Qing dynasty and Republican-era local gazetteers rather than the major classical materia medica texts. The Xiuren County Gazetteer (Qing Dynasty, ~1830) states: "Luo Han Guo can be used as medicine, clearing heat and treating cough."
Luohanguo has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a medicinal herb for treating cough and sore throat and is popularly considered, in southern China, to be a longevity aid. In China, the fruits are frequently used as the main ingredient in "cooling drinks or tea." Traditionally, the fruit was used to make a decoction with hot water and drunk for the treatment of throat and lung ailments.
Traditionally, the fruit was used in folk medicine for the treatment of several common diseases like cough, cold, sore throat, constipation, and dire thirst. S. grosvenorii is used not only as a food ingredient but also as an herbal medicine, particularly in China, where it has been used as a natural antitussive and expectorant for 300 years. Furthermore, it is one of the first approved "medicine food homology" (MFH) species in China — a concept derived from the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, which reflects the theory that there are food classes that can also be used as drugs.
It has been used in China as an excellent traditional folk treatment for respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive diseases. Song dynasty poet Zhu Xi reportedly wrote a poem referencing monks brewing Luo Han Guo tea, suggesting early recognition of the fruit's use in monastic settings.
It is commonly used in southern China as a household remedy for children's coughs and sore throats, typically prepared as a tea.
Based on existing literature, more than 100 compounds have been isolated from S. grosvenorii, including at least 46 triterpenoids, 7 flavonoids, 19 amino acids, and 2 polysaccharides. Compounds identified and isolated from monk fruit include mainly triterpenoids, flavonoids, essential oils, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and polysaccharides.
The primary components of crude Luo Han Guo fruit extracts are cucurbitane glycosides (known as mogrosides, specifically mogrosides II, III, IV, V, and VI) along with flavonoids. Mogrosides are a group of cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides that are the major bioactive compounds in monk fruit. The mixture of mogrosides is approximately 300 times sweeter than sucrose, but only mogrosides with mogrol aglycone and with more than three sugar moieties possess the sweet taste.
Previous phytochemical studies have isolated and identified the structures of mogroside III, IV, V, and VI, among which mogroside V (M5), contained five glucose groups, is the most abundant. M5 presents a relative sweetness intensity approximately 260-fold greater than that of sucrose. One mogroside, mogroside V, creates a sweetness sensation 250 times stronger than sucrose.
Mogrosides IV, V, and VI were successfully isolated from S. grosvenorii fruits in 1983. Simultaneously, more than 30 similar compounds have been obtained from the fruits; these compounds have the mogrolaglycone structure, [10-cucurbit-5-ene-3, 11, 24(R), 25-tetraol], with different numbers of glucose units attached.
The extracts include, for example, mogroside V, mogroside IV, siamenoside I, and 11-oxomogroside V.
Flavonoids are also important compounds in monk fruit and exert antibacterial and antioxidant effects. The extensive health benefits of S. grosvenorii are attributed to its diverse chemical composition, including triterpene glycosides, flavonoids, polysaccharides, vitamins, and more.
Monk fruit extract and functional ingredients such as mogrosides and polysaccharides have been shown to have hypoglycemic effects on fasting and postprandial blood glucose in diabetes models.
In different varieties of monk fruit, the total sugar content accounts for 25–38% of dry weight, with fructose content at 10–17% and glucose at 5–15%. In addition to fats, vitamins, and minerals, monk fruit also contains polysaccharides and all the necessary amino acids. The seed kernels of monk fruit possess 48.5% fat and vitamins such as ascorbic acid, thiamin, and riboflavin.
The compounds responsible for the sweetening effect are glycosylated cucurbitan-type triterpenes and mogrosides, which are not absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract and do not add calories to the diet. Mogroside V is absorbed to some extent and is systemically bioavailable after intestinal processing, but mogrosides — the active sweet compounds in monk fruit — are not metabolized by the body into glucose.
Mogroside V has attracted considerable research interest due to its broad pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. Notably, MOG-V exhibits a remarkable capacity to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby supporting mitochondrial function and promoting cellular homeostasis.
Emerging evidence suggests that mogrosides, its primary bioactive compounds, may exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Mogroside V is known for exhibiting diversified remarkable properties of pharmacological interest, such as anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activities; recovery of lung function; anticancer; and neuroprotective activities.
A 2018 study found that mogroside-rich extract from Siraitia grosvenorii activated AMPK pathways in both liver and muscle tissue of treated animals, contributing to hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. In vitro studies have shown that mogrol inhibited adipogenesis in the 3T3L cell line by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity.
A second mechanism involves gut microbiota modulation. A 2021 study examined whether mogrosides regulate short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the gut of type 2 diabetic rats, finding that mogroside treatment shifted the gut microbiome toward profiles associated with improved glucose metabolism and reduced systemic inflammation.
Evidence strength: Moderate for acute glycemic non-impact in humans; preliminary/animal for active antidiabetic effects.
Tey et al. (2017) conducted a randomized crossover clinical trial to evaluate the impact of MFE, stevia, aspartame, and sucrose-sweetened beverages on postprandial glucose, insulin levels, and satiety perception in healthy adults. Healthy participants aged 21–50 years were recruited through community advertisements. Thirty healthy male subjects took part in this randomised, crossover study with four treatments: aspartame-, monk fruit-, stevia- and sucrose-sweetened beverages. The results indicated that MFE significantly reduced glucose AUC compared to sucrose (p < 0.05) and lowered insulin AUC (p = 0.02). Satiety values did not differ significantly between sweeteners, suggesting that the glucose-lowering effects of MFE act independently of appetite regulation.
A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial compared the effect of monk fruit and sucrose-sweetened beverages on postprandial glucose in patients with T2DM and non-T2DM volunteers — the first to evaluate the glycemic response of monk fruit in individuals with T2DM regardless of BMI. In this study involving individuals with T2DM and a control group, the monk fruit oral glucose tolerance test demonstrated significantly lower glucose levels at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes compared to the sucrose oral glucose tolerance test.
In a human study, consuming a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight of monk fruit did not affect blood glucose levels, nor did it alter the liver enzyme profile, and no adverse events were reported.
Most of the health effects, such as anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-diabetic properties, were demonstrated in animal models with limited evidence from clinical trials. Future studies should focus on testing in humans.
Evidence strength: Preliminary; one small RCT, majority of evidence from in vitro and animal studies.
Wu et al. (2024) reported that MFE supplementation led to a 25% reduction in inflammatory cytokines compared to placebo (p = 0.03), emphasizing its potential in mitigating chronic inflammation. However, clinical evidence supporting these claims remains limited.
In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the mogrosides may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings require replication in well-powered human trials before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Evidence strength: Supported by traditional use and some clinical data; mechanistic evidence remains largely preclinical.
Extracts and compounds of S. grosvenorii have been demonstrated to have antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, immunologic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, and other activities. Pharmaceutical preparations containing this plant have become the mainstay of clinical use in the treatment of throat disorders and lung diseases.
A 2024 randomized controlled trial (Wu et al., 2024) cited in the PRISMA-guided systematic review examined botanical lozenges containing monk fruit extract in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis and found significant symptom relief. The systematic review also evaluated MFE's role in symptom relief and clinical outcomes in throat discomfort.
Evidence strength: Preclinical (animal); no adequate human RCTs identified.
In a murine study, a mogroside-rich extract (MGE) could significantly reduce body weight gain and fat tissue weight in mice fed a high-fat diet. Moreover, MGE markedly attenuated fatty liver, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The gut microbiota structures were disturbed by high-fat diet feeding — in particular, the abundance of Firmicutes was increased and the abundance of Bacteroidetes was decreased. The abnormal proportion of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes in HFD-fed mice was restored to the level of control mice by MGE treatment.
These findings are promising but are restricted to animal models. No human clinical trials specifically investigating monk fruit for weight management have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature.
Evidence strength: Preliminary in vitro evidence only.
Qi et al. (2006) studied the antimicrobial effect of S. grosvenorii ethanol extract on P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The inhibitory rate of the extract against these different strains was measured using the dichotomy method. It was found that the ethanol extracts of leaves and stems of S. grosvenorii have antimicrobial activity, with inhibition values of 70.2% against P. aeruginosa and 50% or less against S. aureus and C. albicans. However, mogroside V itself had no antibacterial activity in those evaluations. These findings are in vitro only and have not been replicated in human trials.
Evidence strength: Preclinical (in vitro and animal) only; no human clinical evidence.
In a two-stage mouse skin carcinogenicity assay, mogroside V showed a good inhibitory effect. The tubers of S. grosvenorii have also been shown to possess significant anticancer activity in vitro. S. grosvenorii extract inhibited the expression of Cyp1a1, which plays a role in inhibiting liver cancer.
These findings must be interpreted cautiously, as all available anticancer evidence is preclinical. No human clinical trials have evaluated monk fruit or mogrosides as cancer treatments.
Evidence strength: Preclinical; no human evidence available.
The hepatoprotective effects of S. grosvenorii primarily manifest in detoxification, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic activity, and the promotion of liver cell regeneration. Modern pharmacological evidence suggests that S. grosvenorii fruit has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and hypoglycaemic activities. These conclusions are based largely on in vitro and animal experiments.
Evidence strength: Preclinical in vitro/animal only.
S. grosvenorii has diverse health-promoting effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, respiratory modulation, metabolic modulation, antitumor, and neuroprotective effects, as well as gastrointestinal function modulation. The neuroprotective effects of mogroside V have been documented in preclinical models, but human studies are absent.
Evidence strength: Animal models only.
Zhang et al. studied the anti-fatigue effect of S. grosvenorii extract in 144 male ICR mice, and the results showed that liver and muscle concentrations of glycogen in the low-, medium-, and high-dose S. grosvenorii extract groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, S. grosvenorii extract increases testosterone levels in rats after weight-loaded swimming training, improves substance metabolism, and significantly enhances rats' anti-fatigue capacity.
The sample sizes in randomized controlled trials of monk fruit extract ranged from 30 to 203 participants per trial, with 544 being enrolled across all identified studies. The study populations included healthy adults, individuals with metabolic syndrome, overweight participants, and diabetic patients. The duration of MFE interventions varied: short-term studies lasted 7–15 days, medium-term studies lasted 4–8 weeks, and a long-term study lasted 6 months.
The MFE dose in RCTs ranged from 250 to 300 mg daily, depending on the study design. Some studies used MFE-sweetened drinks or lozenges, while others used MFE powder or dietary supplements.
In a single-dose human safety study, a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight did not affect blood glucose levels, alter the liver enzyme profile, or produce adverse events.
The FDA states that people with diabetes, children, and pregnant women can all safely consume monk fruit sweeteners, but the FDA has not established a maximum daily intake of monk fruit.
Monk fruit extract, derived from Siraitia grosvenorii (Luo Han Guo), received FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status in 2010. Unlike most approved sweeteners, the FDA has received no adverse event reports linked to it.
The scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published in 2019 stated that data was insufficient at that time for EFSA to make a conclusion on the safety of using monk fruit extracts in foods. The safety of monk fruit extract has been confirmed by health agencies in countries around the world, including China, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and Health Canada, which permit it in tabletop sweetener packets only.
EFSA issued a positive opinion in 2024 on the safety of a specific aqueous extract of monk fruit, authorising its use under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2345. However, other monk fruit extracts, particularly highly purified mogrosides and non-aqueous extracts, remain unapproved due to gaps in toxicological data and the absence of industry-led novel food applications.
In a thorough safety evaluation published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, researchers concluded that monk fruit extract showed no evidence of genotoxicity, subchronic toxicity, or reproductive and developmental toxicity in standard animal testing protocols (Brusick et al., 2016, PMID: 27067923).
Monk fruit extract containing 25% and 55% mogroside V were negative in the bacterial reverse mutation assay and did not induce structural and/or numerical chromosomal damage.
The EFSA Panel noted that the in vitro toxicity studies including studies with metabolic activation were not sufficiently informative to evaluate the genotoxic potential of the metabolites generated after microbial metabolism, including the aglycone. The effects on the testis observed in a 90-day study with monk fruit extract (52% mogroside V) cannot be dismissed and the adversity of these effects cannot be ruled out. No effects on parental, reproductive, or developmental toxicity were observed in a reproductive and developmental screening study in rats.
For male animals, the time of exposure did not cover the full length of spermatogenesis and, therefore, a longer-term study at higher doses would be needed to clarify the effects on testes observed in the 90-day study.
No effects on parental, reproductive, or developmental toxicity were observed in a reproductive and developmental screening study at 1,200 mg mogroside V/kg body weight per day in rats.
The FDA does not set a numerical Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for monk fruit, which reflects the absence of any identified adverse effect level in the toxicological data. There is simply no observed dose at which harm occurs. EFSA reviewed available data and set no acceptable daily intake — meaning the safety margin was wide enough that a numerical limit was not considered necessary.
No documented pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions with monk fruit extract or mogrosides have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature at dietary use levels. Validating the correlations of the chemical composition and pharmacological effects should be carried out further, and pharmacokinetics and clinical applications of S. grosvenorii should also be studied systematically.
Unlike fermentable sugars, mogrosides are not metabolized by oral bacteria responsible for dental caries. The compounds responsible for the sweetening effect are not absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract and do not add calories to the diet, indicating that they do not serve as a fermentable substrate for cariogenic oral bacteria.
Cucurbitane glycosides (mogrosides) are the main components of S. grosvenorii fruit, and mogroside V is the main mogroside in monk fruit extract. Mogroside V is absorbed to some extent and is systemically bioavailable, a consideration relevant to understanding both its pharmacological activity and any potential for systemic effects at high doses.
As of mid-2026, the clinical evidence base for monk fruit is strongest — and most robust — for its function as a zero-calorie, zero-glycemic-index sweetener. Monk fruit has gained attention as a natural high-intensity sweetener due to its unique mogroside properties, which provide intense sweetness without the glycemic impact associated with traditional sugars. Multiple human randomized controlled trials confirm that it does not acutely elevate blood glucose or insulin. For the wide range of proposed pharmacological benefits — antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antifatigue, and neuroprotective — clinical evidence supporting these claims remains limited, with most data derived from in vitro experiments and animal models. Pharmacokinetic and clinical applications of S. grosvenorii should be studied more systematically before definitive conclusions about therapeutic use in humans can be drawn.
Health conditions that Monk fruit may help support.
Mogrosides in monk fruit are well-characterised antioxidants that scavenge free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress. In vitro studies demonstrate that luo han guo extract (LLE) and mogroside fractions significantly protect normal kidney cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage. Mogroside V has also been shown to protect pancreatic beta cells from oxidative injury in high-glucose conditions.
Monk fruit extract (MFE) has a zero glycemic index because mogrosides are not absorbed as carbohydrates and do not raise blood glucose. Clinical trials demonstrate significant reductions in postprandial glucose and insulin response when MFE replaces sugar. In vitro and animal studies show mogroside V stimulates insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Human RCT evidence, while still limited in scale, consistently confirms glycemic neutrality or benefit.
Animal studies show that mogroside fractions from monk fruit lower serum total cholesterol and triglycerides while improving HDL cholesterol in diabetic and obese models. The PRISMA systematic review of RCTs identified lipid profiles as a target outcome for MFE investigation. Human clinical trial evidence on lipid parameters specifically is limited and has not established effect sizes in humans.
Mogrosides from monk fruit have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in multiple preclinical models, inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. The 2025 PRISMA-guided systematic review of RCTs identified preliminary evidence of anti-inflammatory and symptom-relieving effects attributable to mogrosides. No large-scale human clinical trials focused exclusively on inflammation as a primary endpoint have been completed.
Mogrosides pass to the colon largely intact and are metabolised by gut bacteria, with preclinical and in vitro studies showing promotion of beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia. A 2021 PMC-published in vitro study (PMC8495861) directly demonstrated that mogroside V modulates gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid synthesis. Animal studies confirm shifts in microbiome diversity with enrichment of immune-related beneficial flora.
As a zero-calorie, zero-carbohydrate sweetener, monk fruit extract enables caloric reduction when substituted for sugar in the diet, which is the primary mechanism supporting weight management. No direct human clinical trials have measured body weight as a primary endpoint specifically for monk fruit. Animal studies show that mogroside V and VI fractions prevented increases in body and abdominal fat weight. Evidence from other low-calorie sweeteners supports the general principle of calorie reduction aiding weight management.
Mogroside V has been shown in vitro to stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells, providing a mechanistic basis for glycemic support beyond simple caloric avoidance. Animal studies demonstrate that mogrosides activate AMPK, a pathway associated with improved insulin sensitivity. In vitro evidence also shows protection of beta cells from oxidative stress-induced damage. Human clinical data remain limited but show significant reductions in postprandial insulin response.
Monk fruit extract addresses several components of metabolic syndrome including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and excess adiposity through its zero-calorie sweetening, mogroside-mediated glycemic modulation, and preclinical lipid-lowering effects. The 2025 PRISMA systematic review of human RCTs specifically assessed MFE's impact on metabolic health and lipid profiles. Animal studies demonstrate improvements in multiple metabolic syndrome markers simultaneously.
Monk fruit (luo han guo) has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine to soothe sore throats, and this use is documented in historical TCM texts. One double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT evaluated luo han guo decoction in surgical patients experiencing post-intubation throat discomfort, finding reductions in throat pain, hoarseness, and inflammation. This constitutes the primary human clinical evidence supporting this indication.
Monk fruit has a long-documented history of use in TCM for bronchial conditions including cough, bronchial irritation, and congestion. Historical texts describe it as clearing heat and phlegm from the lungs. Preliminary pharmacological evidence shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in mogrosides, but no human clinical trials specific to bronchial health have been conducted.
Monk fruit is documented in TCM as a bowel-lubricating herb that gently moistens the intestines to ease constipation, particularly of the 'dry' or 'heat' type. WebMD notes that people have used the fruit for centuries in traditional medicine for constipation. The TCM monograph (meandqi.com) specifically lists 'digestive regularity' as a therapeutic focus of luo han guo. No human clinical trials have tested monk fruit for constipation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, monk fruit is classified as a phlegm-transforming, lung-moistening herb used to relieve productive cough and reduce phlegm accumulation. Multiple botanical reviews and TCM monographs document this use. No human clinical trials specifically testing monk fruit's mucolytic or expectorant activity have been published.
Body systems that Monk fruit may help support.
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