A Comparative Study Of Major Puerarin Varieties In Thailand And China

Objective:To explore the distribution,processing,storage,action,indications,clinical applications,usage and modern researches of different varieties of the root of kudzu vine commonly used in China and Thailand,through searching,sorting and mining literature researches from the two countries.By the comparison of the root of kudzu vine commonly used in China and Thailand from multiple aspects,we may cover the shortage of the researches in this field,strengthen academic exchanges between the two countries,widen the application scale of the root of kudzu vine,and lay a certain foundation for further study.Method:For Chinese researches and documents on the root of kudzu vine,we searched in Chinese Medical Classics,CNKI,Wanfang Database,and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Library.While the literatures and records in Thailand,we used Google Scholar,Pubmed,ScienceDirect,JSTOR and Thailand's Traditional Library as main means for systematic retrieval.We sorted,generalized and summarized the species,source,processing and clinical application of the root of kudzu vine in the two countries and conducted comparative study,through literature review,textual research of historical documents,on-the-spot investigaion,expert consultation and literature research.Result:For species,the Genus Pueraria DC.in China contains 8 species and 2 varieties,While the Thailand's contains 10 species.The record on the species in China is earlier than Thailand.When without the division and identification of the species,it was generally believed that there was only one specie of the root of kudzu vine,wild one was different from the planted ones,and the plants grew differently in different regions.However,in ancient,there recorded four species in Thailand,white puerarin,red puerarin,black puerarin and radix puerariae.Now in both China and Thailand,there is only one medicinal resource of the root of kudzu vine,Pueraria lobate is the only medical resource in China,while in Thailand,Pueraria mirifica is.For processing,there are theoretical and conceptual differences between the traditional Chinese and Thai medicine,so there are differences in the processing method with respective characteristics.In China,the root of kudzu vine can be used fresh or cooked,and then boiled in decoction.While the root of kudzu vine is made into powder and mixed with honey or other Thai medicine for pills in Thailand.For storage,the root of kudzu vine should be put in a dry and ventilated place to prevent the bug eat by moth in both China and Thailand.For effects and actions,the research history in China is much longer,so there is much more clinical experience in China.There are similar records on actions in China and Thailand,such as reducing fever,releasing the exterior(relieving cold),relieving thirst,treating pox,counteracting the toxin of animal bites,etc.However,in China,the root of kudzu vine also has the actions of counteracting alcohol toxin,ascending yang to stop diarrhea,treating bloody dysentery and abortion,etc.The root of kudzu vine used in Thailand has the actions of rejuvenation,anti-aging,anti-wrinkle,breast enhancement,improving the sleeping quality,promoting appetite and strengthening physical health,etc.For clinical application,in ancient China it was mainly used for releasing the exterior,ascending yang to inducing eruption,reducing fever and promoting fluid production,activating blood and dredging collaterals,while in modern it is mainly applied for cardio-cerebrovascular disease,hypertension,diabetes and so on.However,in ancient Thailand it was mainly for rejuvenation,nourishing the skin,relieving insomnia,and in modern it is mainly used for menopausal syndrome.As for the preparations,there are traditional forms both in China and Thailand.However,the preparations is developed much faster in China,such as transdermal drug delivery system,injection,which with more stability,controllability,efficacy and safety than the traditional forms.And the traditional forms like pills,capsules are mainly used in Thailand,and no new forms in research or development.The root of kudzu vine is often taken in decoction for internal use or applied after being pounded for external use,while it is made into pills or capsules in Thailand.For clinical dosage,to China's regulations the root of kudzu vine can be used in 10?15 g.And the root of kudzu vine can be used for medicine in 1?2 mg/kg or 50 to 100 mg/day in Thailand.As used in the dosage above,it will not cause allergy symptoms.Modern researches include the studies on chemical composition and pharmacological actions.The main effective components in both Chinese kudzu vine and Thai kudzu vine is isoflavone,such as puerarin,daidzein,genistein.And the root of kudzu vine in Thailand also contains a miroestrol with estrogen-like effect.And the pharmacological action of Chinese kudzu vine and Thai kudzu vine are roughly same,such as estrogen-like effect,improving the learning and memory effect,antihypertensive effect,etc.However,the pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system and central nervous system,hyperglycemic and hypolipemic activity is much more highlighted,while its estrogen-like effect,breast enhancement effect and anti-osteoporosis effect,is more prominent in Thailand.Conclusion:There are a lot of differences between China and Thailand on the geographical and cultural aspects,so the root of kudzu vine for medical use is also in different varieties,for different clinical applications and indications.Traditionally the root of kudzu vine used as a rejuvenator,longevity medicine in Thailand,while in modern it is mainly used for female climacteric syndrome.However,in traditional Chinese medicine the root of kudzu vine mainly used for releasing the exterior to reduce fever,promoting fluid production to quench thirst,relieving incised wound,counteracting alcohol toxin,inducing eruption and ascending yang to stop diarrhea,while in modern it is much more for cardiovascular disease,diabetes,and ophthalmic disease.The applications worth learning and discussing can be,whether Chinese kudzu vine can be used as a health product,which can improve the estrogenic effect in climacteric women to alleviate female climacteric syndrome?Whether it can be developed into a preparation that is more convenient for daily use?Whether Thai kudzu vine can be for treating exogenous diseases,cardiovascular disease,diabetes or ophthalmic disease?If it can be developed into a novel preparation with stability,controllability,effectiveness and safety like the Chinese?Relevant experts and scholars in this field of the two countries can do communication and learning in various aspects.It is believed that in the future there will promote more researches,deeper communications,common development and progress of the two countries in the study of the root of kudzu vine.