Pueraria mirifica is a herb from Thailand long-known for its traditional effects of breast enlargement and post-menopausal symptom relief making it potentially the safer, natural alternative to synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
In Thaland, Kwao Krua is a name given to a group of plants including Pueraria mirifica. The herb has been extensively studied and large plantations exist. (Writes Chris Woollams from Thailand!)
Traditional use of Pueraria mirifica - skin health, breast enlargement, menopausal help
Locals hold that it protects the skin and keep wrinkles at bay with the skin looking younger for longer. It is also traditionally used to enhance the size of women’s breasts, making them bigger and firmer. Importantly, it was also used during and after the menopause to help local women get through ‘the change’ more smoothly, reducing night sweats and vaginal dryness.
While there might be limited scientific research, in real life the results are well-known to the Thais and the centuries old use continues today.
Pueraria and cancer
The benefits of Pueraria mirifica come from several particular and potent phytostrogens, which affect and regulate human levels of oestrogen in the body. Interestingly in South East Asia and Japan, female cancer is associated with higher levels of human hormones such as oestradiol, and lowered levels of phytoestrogens.
In a study (1) on mice using estradiol or the active phytoestrogens from Pueraria mirifica, Puerifica lowered CYP1 genes starting in the liver, while normalising other cancer-related genes, reducing the risk of breast cancer. Estradiol (the human hormone and lead cause of breast cancer), did not. The phytoestrogen conferring these benefits is miroestrol, which was first identified and extracted from the plant in 1960.
Numerous Observational and Epidemiologic studies show protective effects of phytoestrogens such as estrols, in breast cancer. Indeed, even within human oestrogens, oestriol does not show potency for originating cancer (2) unlike human oestradiol.
Pueraria mirifica and aging
There is also research on the plant being used to restrict the signs of aging. Dr Hataitip Trisomboon of Srinakharinwirot University has researched many Thai herbs and showed that Pueraria mirifica could help with aging – preventing skin deterioration, hair loss and memory loss. The results seemed to be dose-dependent. And there is research (3) where Pueraria was used in cases of mental decline and even dementia. It produced a significant benefit.
Pueraria mirifica and lowering cholesterol
Increased Cholesterol and increased LDL cholesterol can occur after menopause. 2008 research from Japan (4) on the important phytoestrogen, miroestrol, from Pueraria showed that after two months usage it lowered LDL and increased HDL significantly. In fact there was a 37% decrease in the ratio of LDL to HDL after two months. Ingredients other than miroestrol play a part. Coumestrol and miroestrol enhanced both ER alpha and ER beta activation, while daidzein and genestein enhanced only ER beta activation. The researchers concluded that Pueraria has an gene-modifying action.
A 2011 study (5) among male mice showed that miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol could regulate genes in the testes in the same way as human estradiol, decreasing gene expression for male sex hormones and lowering testosterone. Pueraria is thus not recommended for men!
Pueraria mirifica and osteoporosis
In a study where menopausal monkeys consumed the herb against monkeys that did not, those consuming Pueraria had better bone density and less bone loss (6).
Go to: A reliable source of Pueraria mirifica
References
- Regulation of cancer-related genes - Cyp1a1, Cyp1b1, Cyp19, Nqo1 and Comt - expression in β-naphthoflavone-treated mice by miroestrol; Waranya Chatuphonprasert et al; J Pharm Pharmacol. 2016 Apr;68(4):475-84.
- Menopausal hormone therapy and other breast cancer risk factors in relation to the risk of different histological subtypes of breast cancer: a case-control study, Rosenberg LU, Magnusson C, Lindström1 E et al, Breast Cancer Research 2006, 8: 18 Jan 2006. Commentary
- Effect of miroestrol on ovariectomy-induced cognitive impairment and lipid peroxidation in mouse brain; Orawan Monthakantirat et al; Phytomedicine. 2014 Sep 25;21(11):1249-55
- Pueraria mirifica phytoestrogens improve dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women probably by activating estrogen receptor subtypes, Shinichi Okamura et al; Tohoku J Exp Med. 2008 Dec;216(4):341-51.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21856387
- Pueraria mirifica alleviates cortical bone loss in naturally menopausal monkeys; Donlaporn Kittivanichkul et al; J Endocrinol. 2016 Nov;231(2):121-133.
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