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Our researcher has started research on Pueraria
Mirifica since 1991 and then later on Butea Superba.
The compounds that make Pueraria Mirifica different from any other
phytoestrogen containing plants
in the Family Leguminosae are Miroestrol and Deoxymiroestrol, which
possess highest estrogenic activity among the known phytoestrogens
due to structural similarity to estradiol, Miroestrol was actually
the first compound isolated from this plant by a group of German
chemists in 1940, but the plant had been mistakenly reported then
as Butea Superba. It was later on classified as a new plant called
Pueraria mirifica Airy Shaw et Suvatabhandu.
The isolation and identification of deoxymiroestrol from the root
of Pueraria Mirifica has just been reported in the February 2000
issue of the Journal of Natural Products, The authors proposed that
since deoxymiroes-trol is easily oxidized to miroestrol, deoxymiroestrol,
not the previously reported miroestrol, is more likely to be the
actual chemical constituent of Pueraria Mirifica.
However, it is very likely that the two phytoestrogens coexist in
the root of this plant. As shown below, the chemical structures
of two compounds are very similar to that of estradiol, the main
human estrogen.
In addition to miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, Pueraria Mirifica
also contains other chemicals that belong to isoflavone and coumestran
groups of phytoestrogens, e.g., Genistein, Daidzein, Daidzin, Genistin,
and Coumestrol that are usually found in soybeans (Table 1). However,
the estrogenic activity of Miroestrol and Deoxymiroestrol is much
more potent than that of soy isoflavones.
| Table 1: Chromene, Isoflavonoid and
Coumestan derivatives in Pueraria Mirifica |
| Chromene |
Isoflavones |
Isoflavones glycosides |
Coumestan |
| Miroestrol |
Daidzein |
Daidzin |
Coumestrol |
| Deoxymiroestrol |
Genistein |
Genistin |
Mirificoumestan |
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Kwakhurin |
Mirificin |
Mirificoumestan
glycol |
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Kwakhurin hydrate |
Puerarin |
Mirificoumestan
hydrate |
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Puerarin-6” monoacetate |
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What is benefit effects of Chemical
composition from Pueraria mirifica ?
While Soya and Alfafa contains low amount and low estrogenic of
the phytoestrogens, many researches pointed out the benefit effects
of those chemicals, especially to act as a Potent Anti-Breast Cancer,
Anti-Prostate Cancer, Anti-Colon Cancer, Anti-Cardio-Vascular disease
via the reduction of blood cholesterol and also Anti-Menopausal
Syndrome. The phytoestrogens in the Pueraria
Mirifica (White Kwao Krua) is more
concentrated and higher efficacy. By this distinguish property,
biotechnology application has shown up for this herb.
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