Kudzu extract is a collection of active ingredients extracted from the dried roots of Pueraria lobata or Pueraria thomsonii, both of which are leguminous plants.
1. Main Active Ingredients of Kudzu Extract
Puerarin
Puerarin is the main active ingredient in Pueraria extract and belongs to the isoflavone class of compounds. Its chemical name is 8-β-D-glucosyl-4',7-dihydroxyisoflavone. Puerarin is a white needle-shaped crystal that is soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, etc., and is difficult to dissolve in organic solvents such as benzene and chloroform. The hydroxyl and glucose groups in its chemical structure give it a variety of biological activities.
Daidzein
Daidzein is also an isoflavone class of compounds, with a chemical name of 4',7-dihydroxyisoflavone. It is an important component of Pueraria extract, and is a white or off-white crystalline powder that is soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and ether, but has a low solubility in water. The chemical structure of daidzein is similar to that of estrogen, and it has certain estrogen-like activity.
2. Effects of Kudzu Extract
Effects on the cardiovascular system
Dilation of blood vessels: Pueraria extract can dilate coronary arteries and cerebral blood vessels, increase coronary blood flow and cerebral blood flow. For example, puerarin can dilate blood vessels by acting on receptors on vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby improving the blood supply to the myocardium and brain tissue. This is of great significance for the prevention and relief of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and ischemic cerebrovascular diseases (such as cerebral insufficiency and
transient ischemic attack).
Lowering blood pressure: It has a bidirectional regulatory effect on blood pressure. For patients with hypertension, Pueraria extract can reduce the production of angiotensin II by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), thereby lowering blood pressure; at the same time, it can also improve the compliance of peripheral blood vessels and reduce peripheral vascular resistance. For people with normal blood pressure, it generally does not cause excessive reduction in blood pressure.
Anti-arrhythmic: Pueraria extract has an improvement effect on some arrhythmias. It can reduce the occurrence of arrhythmias by regulating the ion channels of myocardial cells, such as inhibiting the outflow of potassium ions and the inflow of sodium ions, prolonging the action potential duration and effective refractory period of myocardial cells.
Lowering blood lipids: It can reduce the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood, while increasing the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which helps prevent the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis.
Protective effect on the cerebrovascular system
Kudzu extract can improve cerebral circulation and reduce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. During cerebral ischemia, it can reduce the production of free radicals in brain tissue, inhibit lipid peroxidation, and protect neuronal cells. At the same time, it can also promote the repair and regeneration of neurons by upregulating the expression of neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain, and has potential value for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseas
es such as cerebral infarction and Alzheimer's disease.
Effect on the endocrine system
Regulate estrogen levels: Soybean aglycone in Pueraria extract has estrogen-like activity, can bind to estrogen receptors, and exert weak estrogen-like effects in the body. For women, it can relieve symptoms of menopausal syndrome such as hot flashes and night sweats, and regulate menstrual cycle disorders. At the same time, it can also prevent estrogen-related diseases such as breast cancer to a certain extent (by regulating estrogen metabolism and reducing excessive estrogen levels in the body).
Regulating blood sugar: Pueraria extract can improve insulin sensitivity and promote insulin secretion, thereby lowering blood sugar. It has a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on diabetes and its complications (such as diabetic neuropathy and diabetic cardiovascular disease).
Antioxidant effect
Ingredients such as puerarin and soybean aglycone in Pueraria extract are good antioxidants. They can remove various free radicals such as superoxide anion free radicals and hydroxyl free radicals in the body and reduce the damage of free radicals to cells. For example, in in vitro experiments, Pueraria extract can inhibit lipid peroxidation and protect the integrity of cell membranes. In vivo, it can reduce oxidative stress, delay cell aging, and prevent the occurrence of various chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.).
Alcohol-detoxifying and liver-protecting effect
Kudzu extract has the effect of detoxifying alcohol. It can accelerate the metabolism of alcohol in the body and promote the decomposition and excretion of alcohol. Its mechanism may be to convert alcohol into carbon dioxide and water and excrete it from the body by activating alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver. At the same time, Pueraria extract has a protective effect on the liver, can reduce alcohol damage to the liver, and prevent the occurrence of alcoholic liver disease.
3. Application Fields of Kudzu Extract
Kudzu extract is widely used in the medical field to make drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, menopausal syndrome and other diseases. In the health care product industry, it is an important raw material for making health care products such as regulating blood lipids, blood sugar, blood pressure, and sobering up and protecting the liver. In the field of cosmetics, due to its antioxidant and estrogen-like activity, it can be used to develop skin care products with anti-wrinkle, whitening, moisturizing and other effects.
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