Kwao Krua Kao (Pueraria mirifica)
The Pueraria mirifica plant is found only in Thailand. Even though there have been reports of findings of plants in the same family of “Pueraria” in Asian countries, these plant are of different species and possess different qualities from Pueraria mirifica.
From the study, there are nine species [as many as thirteen have now been reported] of Pueraria in Thailand. This article discussing the efficacy and safety study of Pueraria mirifica refers only to Pueraria candollei var. mirifica from central part of the country.
Pueraria mirifica is a climbing plant, usually grows in a mountainous area by tiding with trees. There are three small leaves on each branch and purple blooms on the top. The tubers on its root are round, and stay underground. When cut, white liquid like skim milk would come out. The Shape and size of Pueraria mirifica are diverse up to the environment in which it exists. Active ingredients are found at the roots from which extracts are made.
History
Local communities in Thailand have used Pueraria mirifica for well over one hundred years, specifically for its rejuvenating qualities. This belief in the rejuvenating properties of Pueraria mirifica have been passing down from one generation to another, and more recently through the publication of a pamphlet in 1931 by Luang Anusan Suntara.
In May 1931, Luang Anusan Suntara published a pamphlet on the subject of the benefits derived from Pueraria mirifica. The main part of the pamphlet describes the different ways of mixing up medicine using Pueraria mirifica, and claims of its power to rejuvenate are made; which include:
“fountain of youth” for aged men and women
anti-wrinkle agent for aged and wrinkled skin
darkens white hair, and increases hair growth
alleviate cataract problems
helps with memory loss
increases energy and vigour, more reflexive bodily movements
helps increase blood circulation
helps increase appetite
alleviate sleep disorders
In 1932, Dr. A Kerr directed public attention to the fact that the tuberous roots of Pueraria mirifica were considered to be of value as a rejuvenating drug. Dr. A Kerr was the first to create international awareness of the rejuvenating qualities of Pueraria mirifica, which subsequently led to the isolation of a highly potent estrogen-like (phytoestrogen) compound and to the classification of the plant as Pueraria mirifica in 1952.
Chemistry Composition
Pueraria mirifica is regarded as a “Fountain of youth” because it possesses phytoestrogens that helps supplement estrogen in human body. Although phytoestrogens can also be found in other natural products such as soybeans and bean curt, phytoestrogens in Pueraria mirifica is far greater than that in other products. Apart from Daidzin, Genistin, and Daidzein that are usually found in soybeans, Pueraria mirifica also contains Miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol which has been shown to have 3,000 times the estrogenic activity of soy isoflavones.
Applications
Pueraria mirifica imitates the human Estrogen that as is commonly known, is a natural body compound that affects the human body, including growth and maintenance of female sex characteristics. Therefore when Pueraria mirifica is applied it will help to replace loss of estrogen, and rejuvenate the specific area, where Pueraria mirifica is applied.
Pueraria mirifica is traditionally used as an oral intake. The dried roots are finely ground and mixed with other medicinal herbs, packed in capsules and marketed as a food supplement. Formulations ingredient lists and the content of each product can vary from one supplier to another.
A new application of Pueraria mirifica has been introduced. With modern extraction technology, the dried roots are extracted and standardized into a powdered extract and a fluid extract. The fluid extract is used in the cosmetics industry in breast creams, eye gels, and skin moisturizers. The powdered extract is used similarly to the traditional method, but has absolute uniformity, as a result of the advantage of standardization technique.
When taken orally, the entire body will react; symptoms occurring as a result of the aging process and a deficiency in estrogen levels (eg. sagging breasts, wrinkled skin, bone loss, gray hair etc.) will to an extent will be reversed. Moreover, some have even claimed that Pueraria mirifica when taken orally will exhibit properties of an aphrodisiac.
When applied topically, Pueraria mirifica will react on the respective area of the body.
Topical uses of Pueraria mirifica have been known to include: breast creams (to help firm breasts), eye gels (to help reduce crow’s feet, under eye bags, etc.), body gels (to help reduce wrinkles on applied area), and hair tonic (to darken hair, and strengthen the roots of existing hair.)
It is no wonder that Pueraria mirifica claimed by local people and modern day researchers as a “fountain of youth.”
Pueraria mirifica provides a safe alternative to women who wish to enhance their beauty, and exploit Pueraria mirifica’s many cosmetic uses.
Pueraria mirifica is a “fountain of youth”
Most women are concerned about aging, particularly the effects of the aging process. At a certain age, the body experiences dramatic changes: the body’s systems and its functions begin to decelerate and the immune system weakens.
For the average woman, the menstruation cycle ends around 50, when the reproductive system stops or slows down. Moreover, women who no longer menstruate are often troubled by adverse effects from lower levels of estrogen circulating in the body.
Estrogen helps to control the production of free radicals (free radicals are perceived as being harmful for the body because it accelerates degeneration of cells), and therefore a lack of estrogen induces production of free radicals. Consequently, menopausal women will experience both psychological and physiological changes.
Psychological changes range from anxiety, tension and nervousness to chronic depression. Whereas the physiological effects includes hot flushes, fatigue and insomnia to more severe conditions as bone loss, balding and degeneration of the reproductive area.
When the menstruation cycle ends, the body decelerates its estrogen and progesterone production. This occurs because the ovaries stop functioning when most women are 50 years of age – an unpleasant yet natural byproduct of the aging process.
Consequently, menopausal women and post-menopausal women need something to replace the loss of natural estrogen. Chemical substitutes will help to alleviate both the psychological and physiological changes menopausal women and post-menopausal women will probably experience. However, chemical therapies must be conducted under a physician’s close guidance. A better and safer solution is to use Pueraria mirifica a natural estrogen found in nature.
Mechanism of Action
As stated earlier, Pueraria mirifica contains Phytoestrogen (Daidzin, Genistin, Daidzein, and Miroestrol etc.) can supplement estrogen insufficiency in the body. The human body contains various types of receptors; one type of receptor is the estrogen receptor. Estrogen receptors pick up estrogen activity and send the respective signals throughout the human body. As a result a very similar chemical effect between phytoestrogens and estrogen takes place. Estrogen receptors in the body will accept phytoestrogens and react in the same manner as with estrogen. When Pueraria is taken, it circulates through the body via the circulatory system and picked up by estrogen receptors, which normally exist in brain cells, blood vessels, bones, breast and ovary cells. This helps to restore normal function to the body, once slowed down, as a consequence of the normal process of aging.
Toxicity and Contraindications
The phytoestrogens found in Pueraria mirifica act as a substitute for a lack of estrogen. Phytoestrogens are natural, safe, and non-carcinogenic.
Thailand’s Ministry of Health, by the Department of Medical Science, has published a toxicity study on Pueraria mirifica 23 September 1999.
The sub-chronic toxicity study of Pueraria mirifica root prepared in the form of a suspension in water was performed on male and female Wistar Rats. The mice were given doses of 10, 100, and 1000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day continuously for a period of ninety days. The results follow.
In comparison to the control group that were given water, mice that were given doses of 10 mg/kg/day did not reveal any abnormality in blood cells, did not cause any chemical imbalance in its blood stream nor did it cause any irregularities in its internal sexual organs.
Mice that were given doses of 100 mg/kg/day experienced stagnation in its growth rate, and a reduction in appetite. However, there is no sign of abnormality in blood cells except a reduction in protein count. As for the female mice, an increase in weight of its ovaries was observed, but the cells of the ovaries showed no irregularities.
Mice that were given doses of 1000 mg/kg/day also experienced stagnation in its growth rate, and a reduction in appetite. A reduction in red blood cells count was reported among both male and female mice, whereas a reduction in white blood cells count was reported in the male mice. As for the female mice, an increase in weight of its ovaries was observed, however the cells of the ovaries showed no irregularities, when compared to the control group.
Consequently, it was concluded that a safe dosage for human is 1.0 mg/kg/day taking into consideration that human are 10 times more responsive to toxicity when compared to mice.
However, there are other independent studies done by other researchers claiming that higher dosage than 1.0 mg/kg/day is recommended. Such claims need to be verified and approved by local authorities.
Pueraria mirifica, and its benefits
Phytoestrogens (meaning plant-estrogens), are plant compounds which structurally similar to and work like the human estrogens. There are a number of different types of phytoestrogens, however the phytoestrogen that exhibit ANY estrogenic activity occur almost exclusively in legumes and beans such as soybeans.
Firstly, phytoestrogens in Pueraria mirifica can supplement the human estrogens. Evidence from several independent studies demonstrates that phytoestrogens can produce estrogenic effects in menopausal women. Various studies have shown that women in Asian countries (with high phytoestrogen intakes, especially soybeans) have a lower frequency of hot flushes when compared to women in Western countries (with lower phytoestrogen intakes.)
Moreover, the effects of phytoestrogens on menopausal women are confirmed in the following study: 70-80% of menopausal living in Europe experienced hot flushes, compared to 57% in Malaysia, 18% in China and 14% in Singapore. In another study, 58 menopausal women were given an increase in phytoestrogen intake, the effects were positive, within 12 weeks a large number of the subjects experienced a reduction in hot flushes, and a majority of the subjects experienced a decrease in symptoms associated with menopause.
Secondly, there is evidence to support that phytoestrogen consumption contributes to lower risks of cardiovascular disease and that phytoestrogens may even prevent cardiovascular related diseases. In a study, it was proven that phytoestrogens in soybeans could decrease the level of LDL cholesterol and increase the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood, therefore reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, subjects who consumed soy at least three times daily, reported a decrease in the total level of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride.
Conclusion
Drugs used to treat illness and diseases are called Pharmaceuticals. Phytochemicals in plants having potential health benefits are called Nutriceutricals. Pueraria mirifica contains a variety of beneficial Phytochemicals, which possesses very unique properties, which are not found in any other known plants in the world and therefore, it is considered a safer nutriceutical practice.
We are now revealing to the world the application of Pueraria mirifica in health promoting benefits, and beauty aspect.
For further information please contact:
Siam Natural ™ Herbal Supplements
Siam Industries International, Thailand
info @siamnatural.com