Pueraria tuberosa: A Review on Traditional Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry

Puerariatuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. (Fabaceae), also known as Indian Kudzu (vidari kand), is a perennial herb distributed throughout India and other Asian countries. Traditionally, tuber and leaves of this plant have extensively been reported for nutritional and medicinal properties in Ayurveda as well as in Chinese traditional practices. The objective of the present review is to compile and update the published data on traditional uses, pharmacological potential, and phytochemistry of compounds isolated from the plant Pueraria tuberosa. P. tuberosa extracts and its purified compounds possess multiple activities such as anticancer, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antifertility, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-stress, antiulcerogenic, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, nephroprotective, nootropic, neuroprotective, and wound healing. Tuber and leaf extracts of P. tuberosa contain several bioactive constituents such as puerarin, daidzein, genistein, quercetin, irisolidone, biochanin A, biochanin B, isoorientin, and mangiferin, which possess an extensive range of pharmacological activities. The extensive range of pharmacological properties of P. tuberosa provides opportunities for further investigation and presents a new approach for the treatment of ailments. Many phytochemicals have been identified and characterized from P. tuberosa; however, some of them are still unexplored, and there is no supporting data for their activities and exact mechanisms of action. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to unravel the mechanisms of action of individual constituents of this plant.

A fraction of Pueraria tuberosa extract, rich in antioxidant compounds, alleviates ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis in rats and inhibits growth of breast and ovarian cancer cells

Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC., known as Indian Kudzu belongs to family Fabaceae and it is solicited as “Rasayana” drugs in Ayurveda. In the present study, we analyzed the efficacy of an ethyl acetate fraction from the tuber extract of Pueraria tuberosa (fraction rich in antioxidant compounds, FRAC) against menopausal osteoporosis, and breast and ovarian cancer cells. The FRAC from Pueraria tuberosa was characterized for its phenolic composition (total phenolic and flavonoid amount). Antioxidant property (in vitro assays) of the FRAC was also carried out followed by the analysis of the FRAC for its antiosteoporotic and anticancer potentials. The antiosteoporotic activity of FRAC was investigated in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. The cytotoxicity effect was determined in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the FRAC was performed to determine its various phytoconstituents. Docking analysis was performed to verify the interaction of bioactive molecules with estrogen receptors (ERs). The FRAC significantly improved various biomechanical and biochemical parameters in a dose-dependent manner in the ovariectomized rats. FRAC also controlled the increased body weight and decreased uterus weight following ovariectomy in rats. Histopathology of the femur demonstrated the restoration of typical bone structure and trabecular width in ovariectomized animals after treatment with FRAC and raloxifene. The FRAC also exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity in the breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and ovarian (SKOV-3) cancer cells. Furthermore, genistein and daidzein exhibited a high affinity towards both estrogen receptors (α and β) in the docking study revealing the probable mechanism of the antiosteoporotic activity. GC/MS analysis confirmed the presence of other bioactive molecules such as stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one. The FRAC from Pueraria tuberosa has potential for treatment of menopausal osteoporosis. Also, the FRAC possesses anticancer activity.

Pueraria tuberosa as Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-IV Inhibitor Prevents Streptozotocin-Induced Intestinal Stress

BACKGROUND: Enhanced expression of PTY-2 dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) has been found to improve has been found in various intestinal diseases. Pueraria tuberosa tuber water extract-2 (PTY-2) is already known to have DPP-IV inhibitory potential. At the mRNA level, this inhibition has not yet been investigated. Increased incretin secretion due to inhibition of DPP-IV could lead to the suppression of stress and apoptosis of intestinal cells. AIM: In this research, we tried to study the antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and DPP-IV inhibitory effect of PTY 2 against intestinal damage induced by STZ. METHODS: We found morphological damage to the intestine following streptozotocin (STZ) injection (65 mg/kg bw) in male Charles foster rats through histological examination. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and DPP-IV mRNA expressions were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and cell apoptosis was examined by tunnel assay and Bcl 2 immunoexpression. RESULTS: In STZ-induced diabetic control, the number and length of villi were decreased, but these damages were reversed by 10 days of PTY-2 treatment. SOD expression was found to be decreased whereas DPP-IV expression was enhanced with significant intestinal cell apoptosis in the diabetic control group. Treatment with PTY-2 decreases stress by upregulating SOD expression and by downregulating the expression of DPP-IV. These PTY-2 recoveries contribute to the suppression of apoptosis in the intestinal cells. CONCLUSION: The protective action of PTY-2 against STZ mediated intestinal damage is demonstrated by these short studies. Therefore, PTY-2 may be taken as a herbal remedy for diabetes-induced intestinal damages.