We investigated the effect of Pueraria mirifica (PM) on gonadotrophin and estradiol levels in aged animals; nine menopausal cynomolgus monkeys were divided into three groups. Each group (n = 3) was fed with 10, 100, and 1000 mg/d of PM for 90 d. PM-10 induced the decrease of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on d 15-90 in one out of three monkeys. PM-100 and PM-1000 decreased FSH levels of all monkeys throughout the treatment period. After the treatment period, FSH levels continued to decrease for 5 and 10-20 d in PM-100 and PM-1000, respectively, and the levels rebounded in all groups thereafter. PM-10 decreased luteinizing hormone (LH) levels throughout the treatment period in one out of three monkeys and returned to the pretreatment levels immediately after stopping treatment. PM-100 and PM-1000 prominently decreased LH levels between d 10 and 90 during treatment and persisted until d 15-25 and d 20-30 for PM-100 and PM-1000, respectively, during the post-treatment period. Serum LH levels rebounded after returning to pre-treatment levels in a dose-dependent manner. Estradiol levels tended to decrease during the treatment period in all groups. The daily feeding of PM suppressed gonadotrophin levels in aged menopausal monkeys based on dose. Moreover, they can be recovered, and there is a direct correlation between dosage and recovery time. PM may be effective as an alternative medicine in menopausal women because the effects are not permanent.

Abstract. This study investigated the estrogenic effect of Pueraria mirifica (P. mirifica) on menstrual cycle length and hormone-related ovarian function. Nine normal cyclic monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were separated into 3 groups; each group was force fed with a single dose of 10, 100, and 1,000 mg of P. mirifica. The experimental schedule was separated into the pre-treatment and post-treatment periods. Blood samples were collected on days 3, 9 -14, 19, 24, 29, and every 10 days until the next menstruation for one and two menstrual cycles during two consecutive periods and assayed for serum levels of gonadotropins and ovarian hormones. The result showed a significant increase in lengths of the follicular phase and total menstrual cycle in monkeys treated with 1,000 mg of P. mirifica, but no change in menstrual cycle length in monkeys treated with 10 and 100 mg of P. mirifica. Serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, or immunoreactive-inhibin did not change during the first and second menstrual cycles of the post-treatment period for all monkey groups. Our findings demonstrate that although changes in hormonal levels could not be observed in this study, a single dose of 1,000 mg of P. mirifica can disturb ovarian function and menstrual cycle in monkeys.

Abstract.To determine the effect of Pueraria mirifica (PM) on serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels on aged menopausal monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), subjects were treated with 10, 100, or 1,000 mg/day of PM. Blood samples were collected every 5 days for 30, 90, and 60 days during pretreatment, treatment, and post-treatment periods, respectively. Sera were assayed for PTH, estradiol, and calcium levels. PM-1,000 had the strongest effect on the decrease in PTH (0.001

Pueraria mirifica (PM), a Thai herb containing phytoestrogens, may act as estrogen and disturb reproduction. To investigate the effect of PM on the menstrual cycle length and related hormones, nine adult female monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were separated into three groups. Each group (n = 3) was fed with 10, 100, and 1000 mg/d of PM for three menstrual cycles. The menstrual cycle length increased significantly in monkeys treated with PM-10 and PM-100 and disappeared completely in monkeys treated with PM-1000. Serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, and irinhibin were lower during the treatment period in a dose-dependent manner. Changes in menstrual cycle length and the hormonal levels recovered during the post-treatment period only in monkeys treated with PM-10 and PM-100. PM greatly influences menstrual cycles and may suppress ovulation by lowering serum levels of gonadotropins.