Mystique Pueraria lobata root powder (Thai kudzu) 50 g

Menopausal symptoms; general female reproductive health; support of bone, hair, and fingernails; sexual longevity including vaginal lubrication; and enhanced breast size.

Pueraria has been shown to act on both alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) estrogen receptors. In general, ERα receptors direct cellular proliferation, whereas the ERβ subtype directs differentiation and apoptosis. ERα are more active early in the fetal and neonatal periods, whereas ERβ subtype dominates in puberty and adulthood. When the balance between ERα and ERβ receptors is disrupted, reproductive health may be impaired. The phytoestrogens miroestrol and coumestrol act on both ERα and ERβ receptors, whereas daidzein and genistein are more active on ERβ receptors. Miroestrol blocks excessive stimulation of ER receptors in cases of breast or endometrial cancer, yet acts as an estrogen agonist to support cardiovascular health and alleviate menopausal symptoms. Deoxymiroestrol, which is probably more active than miroestrol, has similar cellular and clinical effects.

The phytosterol formononetin up-regulates the expression of ERβ without stimulating ERα in endometrial and vaginal cells of ovarectomized rats. Formononetin has intramembranous ossification effects in traumatized mice bones. This effect is comparable to that of parathyroid hormone administration. Formononetin decreases metabolic activity in osteoarthritic osteoblasts while markedly increasing metabolic activities in normal osteoblasts. Formononetin has a greater remodeling effect on osteogenic markers and inflammatory cytokines in osteoarthritic bone than in normal bone.

Although one study reported puerarin to have little to no binding of ERα and ERβ receptors in bone, other studies have reported ER agonism that contribute to Pueraria’s bone-building effects. In one study, puerarin stimulated osteoprotegerin, inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, and suppressed interleukin-6 production by human osteoblastic cells via agonism at both ERα and ERβ.Pueraria retards bone absorption without interfering with overall bone metabolism and stimulates bone regeneration without having proliferative effects on the endometrium.Pueraria promotes alkaline phosphatase and osteoprotegerin, decreases osteoclastogenic factors, inhibits bone absorption by osteoclasts, and stimulates proliferation and especially differentiation of osteoblasts. In total, these mechanisms promote bone gain. Formononetin also improves trabecular microarchitecture, collagen synthesis, and osteoprotegerin activation without exerting proliferative effects on the endometrium,and it has only weak proliferative effects on the breast epithelia.

Puerarin prevents the increase in β-amyloid caused by estrogen deficiency. In the hippocampus, puerarin increases choline acetyltransferase activity and expression.

Pueraria extracts have been used topically to treat postmenopausal vaginal atrophy and in skin products for cosmetic effects. One study on postmenopausal macaques has shown kudzu to significantly mature the vaginal epithelium without causing systemic side effects. A 12-week randomized controlled study of postmenopausal women significantly improved the vaginal maturation index, decreased adverse vaginal symptoms, and was comparable to conjugated equine estrogen cream.

Dosage

Dosages of 20 mg to 2.4 g/day have been used in most of the human clinical studies. Topical doses have been 0.5–1.0 g/day.