Kudzu: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
Pueraria montana, Pueraria lobata
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Isoflavones
Triterpenoids
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Coronary heart disease ✪✪✪✪✪
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the effect of Pueraria lobata and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract on vascular function and structure was studied. The group of patients with documented coronary disease received 6 capsules daily, each containing 500 mg of extract of S. miltiorrhiza and P. lobata, for 24 weeks. At the end of the period, there was a slight decrease in plasma LDL and an improvement in carotid intima-media thickness.nnClinical research also shows that administration of puerarin, 500 mg intravenously once a day for 3 weeks, in addition to conventional treatment, decreases fasting plasma insulin and LDL cholesterol levels and increases HDL cholesterol compared with conventional treatment alone in patients with coronary disease who had high LDL cholesterol and elevated baseline fasting plasma insulin levels.nnnn
Posologie
Intravenous: root
500 mg
3 - weeks
Adults
standardized extract
Alcoholism ✪✪✪✪✪
Preclinical research suggests that kudzu reduces peak blood alcohol concentration due to delayed gastric emptying, exposing alcohol to a longer time for metabolism during first pass in the stomach. Other research suggests that kudzu may have antioxidant effects and accelerate the metabolism of toxic alcohol metabolites. Some studies show that heavy drinkers who take kudzu extract for 1 to 4 weeks consume less beer when given the opportunity to drink and may have more days of abstinence. Other research shows that heavy drinkers who take kudzu extract about 2 hours before a drinking episode consume 37% fewer beers than those who take a placebo. A specific kudzu root extract at a dose of 1.5 to 3 grams taken in three divided doses per day for 1 to 4 weeks has been used. In addition, a single 2-gram dose of kudzu root extract has been used as a one-time dose, 2.5 hours before a 90-minute binge drinking episode.
Posologie
Oral: root
1.5 - 3 g
4 - weeks
Adults
standardized extract
A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm
An extract of the Chinese herbal root kudzu reduces alcohol drinking by heavy drinkers in a naturalistic setting
Potential use of medicinal plants in the treatment of alcoholism
A standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers
Supplementation of Pueraria radix water extract on changes of antioxidant enzymes and lipid profile in ethanol-treated rats
Daidzin, an antioxidant isoflavonoid, decreases blood alcohol levels and shortens sleep time induced by ethanol intoxication
Menopause ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research in perimenopausal women shows that taking kudzu 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg per day for 6 months improves climacteric (menopausal) symptoms. Other clinical research in perimenopausal women shows that taking kudzu 50 mg per day for 6 months reduces vasomotor symptoms similarly to taking estrogens. nn
Posologie
Oral: root
25 - 100 mg
6 - months
Women
standardized extract
Type 2 diabetes ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research in adults with type 2 diabetes shows that taking oral puerarin, a constituent of kudzu, 750 mg per day in addition to rosiglitazone 4 mg per day for 12 weeks significantly reduces blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared with baseline.nn
Posologie
Oral: root
750 mg
12 - weeks
Adults
puerarin
Diabetic nephropathy ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research in patients with diabetic nephropathy shows that taking puerarin, a constituent of kudzu, at 750 mg per day in addition to rosiglitazone 4 mg per day for 12 weeks improves renal function, including serum creatinine, blood and urinary urea nitrogen, and albumin, compared with baseline. nn
Posologie
Oral: root
750 mg
12 - weeks
Adults
puerarin
Obesity ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a kudzu extract at 300 mg per day for 12 weeks reduces visceral fat and body mass index compared with placebo in obese patients.
Posologie
Oral: root
300 mg
12 weeks
Adults
standardized extract
High blood pressure ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking 3 grams of kudzu powder in two doses per day for 12 weeks decreases systolic blood pressure by 16% and diastolic blood pressure by 12% compared with baseline in hypertensive patients.
Posologie
Oral: root
3 g
12 weeks
Adults
standardized extract
Properties
Anti-inflammatory
Preliminary in vitro and human studies suggest that kudzu and its constituents, including puerarin, may inhibit inflammatory processes, possibly by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis and the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Antioxidant
Kudzu or its constituents may have antioxidant activity.
Usages associés
Antiplatelet/Anticoagulant
It has been shown that puerarin inhibits platelet aggregation in several animal and cellular models. Indeed, it markedly suppressed platelet aggregation induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in a dose-dependent manner. It is also suggested that puerarin exerted its antiplatelet action by decreasing the release of 5-HT from platelets.
Cardiovascular
Preliminary research suggests that kudzu has a protective effect against myocardial ischemia. Puerarin appears to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption. It may also have vasorelaxant properties, possibly by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors. There is also evidence that puerarin may reduce plasma activity of renin and angiotensin II, as well as platelet aggregation.
Usages associés
Antihypertensive
The antihypertensive effect of puerarin was first observed in the 1980s and was closely linked to the traditional use of kudzu root. It is suggested that puerarin exerts its antihypertensive effect by inhibiting adrenergic receptors.
Usages associés
Hypolipidemic
Administration of puerarin to animals reduced hepatic concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides, suppressed serum leptin levels (leptin is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that plays an important role in energy balance and appetite suppression) and the mRNA expression of leptin receptors.
Usages associés
Estrogenic activity
The constituents of isoflavones have both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity, similar to selective estrogen receptor modulators. These phytoestrogens could have additive or synergistic effects with one another. In animals, kudzu increases vaginal proliferation and decreases vaginal dryness. In clinical research in menopausal women, the application of kudzu gel to the vaginal area improves dryness, pain, irritation, and abnormal discharge.
Usages associés
Hypoglycemic
Kudzu or its constituents appear to have a hypoglycemic activity. Indeed, in vitro research suggests that puerarin increases glucose utilization and activates alpha1-adrenergic receptors on the adrenal gland to increase beta-endorphin secretion, resulting in a decrease in blood glucose.
Usages associés
Neurological
In vitro and animal studies show that kudzu may have neuroprotective effects. Indeed, puerarin may increase cerebral blood flow by dilating intracranial arteries. In ischemic stroke, puerarin could reduce ischemic reperfusion injury by dilating cerebral vessels to improve circulation, reducing platelet aggregation, inhibiting free radical production, and increasing superoxide dismutase activity.
Bone density
Kudzu may have beneficial effects on bone density. In human research, kudzu improves markers of bone remodeling in menopausal women. In animal research, kudzu has been shown to increase bone mineral density. Puerarin appears to play a role by decreasing bone resorption and promoting bone formation.
Safe dosage
Adults 18 years and older: 25 mg - 3000 mg
Kudzu has been used safely for up to 4 months. Puerarin, a constituent of kudzu, has been used safely for up to 20 days.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antiplatelet agents/Anticoagulants: moderate interaction
Kudzu has an antiplatelet effect. Theoretically, it may increase the risk of bleeding when used together with other drugs that have antiplatelet or anticoagulant effects.
Antidiabetic: minor interaction
Kudzu may lower blood sugar and have additive effects in patients on antidiabetic treatment.
Oral contraceptives: moderate interaction
Theoretically, kudzu may competitively inhibit the effects of oral contraceptives.
Estrogens: moderate interaction
Theoretically, kudzu may competitively inhibit the effects of estrogens.
Tamoxifen: moderate interaction
Theoretically, kudzu may interfere with tamoxifen due to its potential estrogenic effects.
Precautions
Pregnant women: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Bleeding disorders: avoid
Kudzu has antiplatelet activity.
Liver disorders: avoid
Theoretically, kudzu may exacerbate liver diseases such as hepatitis.
Type 2 diabetes: use with caution
Theoretically, kudzu could interfere with blood glucose control, requiring dose adjustment of antidiabetic treatment.
Hormone-sensitive disease: avoid
Kudzu may have estrogenic effects. Women with hormone-sensitive conditions should avoid kudzu. These conditions include breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.
