Preliminary Research for the Anti-obesity Effect of Puerariae Flos Extract in Humans

Abstract

This research is preliminary study to examine whether puerariae flos extract (PFE) makes any action to body fat of man or not. We conducted the double-blind placebo controlled study on eighty mildly obese subjects for 8 weeks. The subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups: I, II, III, and IV. Subjects in groups I, II, and III consumed test food containing 100, 200, and 300 mg PFE, respectively, while those in group IV were given placebo food for 8 weeks. All subjects were instructed to restrict their total-energy intake to within 2650 kcal/day in the case of males and 2300 kcal/day in the case of females during the test period. Haematological and biochemical markers of blood, urinary markers, and physical markers were examined at 0, 4, and 8 weeks during the test period. As a result, no adverse effects were noted in any of the groups. For physical examinations, we analysed only males whose initial body mass index (BMI) values were over 24. BMI value and body weights of the subjects in group III were significantly reduced, and total fat area and subcutaneous fat area of the subjects in groups II and III were significantly reduced over the 8-week test period. Moreover, as a result of comparison among groups by unpaired t-test, significant difference appeared between group III and group IV in BMI. Total fat area in group III tend to decrease compared with group IV. By these results, the reduction of BMI in group III may reflect fat area reduction. To confirm the anti-obesity effect of PFE, we need to research particularly by extensive studies hereafter.

The Crude Extract fromPuerariaeFlower Exerts Antiobesity and Antifatty Liver Effects in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

“…Thus, PFE might be expected to prevent NASH by suppressing hepatic lipid accumulation. In fact, GOT, GPT, and gamma-GTP expressions were significantly reduced by PFE ingestion in our preliminary clinical study [5]. This result supports the possibility that PFE supplementation provides the dual effects of preventing both obesity and hepatic disorders.…”

Simultaneous Determination of Isoflavones, Saponins and Flavones in Flos Puerariae by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

“…6) Many pharmacological studies reported the extensive biological activities of the flower, including hepatoprotective, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. 5,7,8) The phytoestrogenic isoflavonoids and saponins are the major components in the flowers as well as roots, [9][10][11] and should be responsible for these aforementioned activities. [12][13][14] The current study is focusing on both Pueraria flowers because the phytopharmaceuticals containing the Pueraria flower, such as the Pueraria flower tea and drink, 15) have become popular for the treatment of alcohol intoxication and liver injury in China and Japan.…”

Evaluation of the Estrogenic Activity of Pueraria (Kudzu) Flower Extract and Its Major Isoflavones Using ER-Binding and Uterotrophic Bioassays

“…In China, tea made from dried Kudzu flowers is widely consumed [1], and PFE is consumed as a nutritional supplement for the treatment of hangovers and obesity in Japan. We previously reported that PFE exerts anti-obesity effects in humans and mice fed high-fat diets [2][3][4]. In addition, we also reported that the isoflavone-rich fraction of dietary PFE exhibits anti-obesity effect in mice fed high-fat diets [5].…”