Pueraria mirifica
Airy Shaw & Suvat.
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Conveyor Belt
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary
Source: WikipediaPueraria mirifica, also known as กวาวเครือ kwao krua (among other names), is a plant found in northern and northeastern Thailand and Myanmar. In Thailand, the plant is known as "kwao krua kao", the 'kao' meaning white which distinguishes Pueraria mirifica from other plants with tuberous roots also sharing the 'kwao krua' designation, such as Butea superba, commonly called kwao krua deng (red) and the 'black' and 'dull grey' kwao krua plants. The species was definitively identified as Pueraria mirifica in 1952. Dried and powdered, the tuberous root of Pueraria mirifica has a history of domestic consumption in Thailand in traditional medicine.
Description
A tropical climbing vine of the Fabaceae family with dark purple flowers.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The roots and tubers are eaten, and leaves are used medicinally.
Medicinal Uses
Some herbal supplements claim various health benefits of the extracts of Pueraria mirifica, although the claims are unsubstantiated and not backed by rigorous clinical evidence.
Known Hazards
The safety of using P. mirifica extracts has not been adequately demonstrated, particularly for endocrine and reproductive functions, with adverse effects possibly affecting people having elevated blood lipids, asthma, diabetes mellitus,epilepsy or systemic lupus erythematosus. Women under 18 years old, those using birth control or prescription estrogen, and pregnant or nursing mothers should not use pueraria products.
Distribution
A tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Asia, Indochina, SE Asia, Thailand,
Notes
It contains phytoestrogens.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Kwao Krua, Thai kudzu
References (3)
- Egan, A. N. 2020, Economic and ethnobotanical uses of tubers in the genus Pueraria DC. Legume Perspectives. Issue 19. November 2020
- Kew Bull. 7:550. 1952
- PROSEA handbook Volume 9 Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. p 179
