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Useful Tropical Plants

Pueraria candollei

Benth.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Pueraria mirifica Airy Shaw & Suvat.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Pueraria candollei is a climbing perennial plant, producing more or less woody, twining stems up to 12mm in diameter from a tuberous rootstock that can be 15cm long and 6cm wide. The stems can be up to 12 metres long[
506
Title
The Flora of British India. (in 7 volumes)
Publication
 
Author
Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
L.Reeve & Co.; London
Year
1872 - 1897
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but has some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
1577
Title
Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer
Publication
Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985
Author
Ven der Maesen L.J.G.
Publisher
Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands
Year
1985
ISBN
90-6754-066-8
Description
 
].
The tuber of the subspecies Pueraria candollei mirifica (synonym Pueraria mirifica) is a traditional herb, widely used in Thailand as a rejuvenative and sold widely on the Internet, especially for its claimed action in increasing breast size, improving breast tone, slowing the aging process and improving skin condition. The tubers are harvested from the wild, often on a commercial basis, and are widely traded..

Known Hazards

An oestrogenic compound, called miroestrol, is found in the roots. In isolation, this compound has been found to have disagreeable toxic side effects, but these have not been recorded when the whole tuber is used medicinally[
1577
Title
Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer
Publication
Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985
Author
Ven der Maesen L.J.G.
Publisher
Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands
Year
1985
ISBN
90-6754-066-8
Description
 
].

Botanical References

506
Title
The Flora of British India. (in 7 volumes)
Publication
 
Author
Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
L.Reeve & Co.; London
Year
1872 - 1897
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but has some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
1577
Title
Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer
Publication
Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985
Author
Ven der Maesen L.J.G.
Publisher
Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands
Year
1985
ISBN
90-6754-066-8
Description
 

Range

E Asia - Bangladesh, northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand.

Habitat

Deciduous scrub jungle, on limestone rocks, open situations, stream or lake banks, climbing in shrubs or low trees; at elevations up to 1,300 metres[
1577
Title
Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer
Publication
Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985
Author
Ven der Maesen L.J.G.
Publisher
Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands
Year
1985
ISBN
90-6754-066-8
Description
 
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *  *
HabitClimber
Height10.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The health benefits of this species appear to be restricted to the subspecies Pueraria candollei mirifica (Airy Shaw & Suvat.) Niyomdham, (synonym Pueraria mirifica Airy Shaw & Suvat.).

The tubers are aphrodisiac, rejuvenative and tonic[
1577
Title
Revision of the Genus Pueraria DC., with some notes on Teyleria Backer
Publication
Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 85-1, 1985
Author
Ven der Maesen L.J.G.
Publisher
Agricultural University,Wageningen,theNetherlands
Year
1985
ISBN
90-6754-066-8
Description
 
]. They are a rich source of phytoestrogens, especially miroestrol, and are used for their oestrogenic effect in the body[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. This is said to take many forms, including breast enlargement and reduction of breast sagging in women, some slowing down of the aging process including restoring white hair to its original colour, improvement of memory, improvement of skin tone[
877
Title
Secrets of Pueraria Mirifica Revealed.
Publication
 
Author
Somkhit Banomyong
Publisher
Smith Naturals Co. Ltd.
Year
2001
ISBN
 
Description
A paper, in PDF format, written by the chairman of a Herbal Supplies company in Thailand. It details the medicinal virtues of the plant Pueraria candollei mirifica (syn Pueraria mirifica). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Many flavonoids (daidzein, daidzin, genistein, genistin, kwakhurin, mirificin, miroestrol) as well as coumarins (columestrol, mirificoumestan and mirificoumestan hydrate) have been isolated from the tuber. Pharmacological studies have shown oestrogenic, antiimplantation, abortifacient, antifertility, antispermatogenic and hypercalcaemic effects[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Traditionally, the tuber has been used as a rejuvenative dietary supplement for the elderly of both sexes - it is said to promote good health; improve the memory; promote strength and vitality; enrich the blood; improve the appetite; improve sleep patterns; restore hair colour. When combined with myrobalan (Terminalia bellirica) it is said to clear the vision and treat cataracts[
877
Title
Secrets of Pueraria Mirifica Revealed.
Publication
 
Author
Somkhit Banomyong
Publisher
Smith Naturals Co. Ltd.
Year
2001
ISBN
 
Description
A paper, in PDF format, written by the chairman of a Herbal Supplies company in Thailand. It details the medicinal virtues of the plant Pueraria candollei mirifica (syn Pueraria mirifica). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tuber is also used, both as a dietary supplement and as a skin cream, as a hormone replacement therapy that is also said to increase breast size; improve breast tone; and to improve skin tone, removing wrinkles etc[
877
Title
Secrets of Pueraria Mirifica Revealed.
Publication
 
Author
Somkhit Banomyong
Publisher
Smith Naturals Co. Ltd.
Year
2001
ISBN
 
Description
A paper, in PDF format, written by the chairman of a Herbal Supplies company in Thailand. It details the medicinal virtues of the plant Pueraria candollei mirifica (syn Pueraria mirifica). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
An ethyl alcohol extract of the tuber has shown interesting oestrogenic properties. In addition, it has shown a growth-promoting effect on skin cells and also reduces cell death from oxidation. The plant has potential as an active ingredient in preparations for the treatment of skin-ageing in post-menopausal women[
1574
Title
Estrogen-like activities and cytotoxicity effects of Thai herbal medicines as natural ingredients in anti-ageing
Publication
J. Med. Plants Res., Vol. 5(31), pp. 6832-6838, 2011
Author
Bancha Yingngam, Nuttapun Supaka & Wandee Rungseevijitprapa
Website
http://10.5897/JMPR11.1223
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
1996-0875
Description
 
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a warm greenhouse in early spring. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Cover the young plants with a frame or cloche until they are growing away well.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pueraria+candollei>

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