Puerarin

Puerarin is a natural isoflavone isolated from plants of the genus Pueraria used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Daidzein and glucuronides are the main metabolites of puerarin. It has been widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes and diabetic complications, osteonecrosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, endometriosis, and cancer. The beneficial effects of puerarin on the various medicinal purposes may be due to its wide spectrum of pharmacological properties such as vasodilation, cardioprotection, neuroprotection, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammation, alleviating pain, promoting bone formation, inhibiting alcohol intake and attenuating insulin resistance. Due to the poor water-solubility and liposolubility, the applications of puerarin are limited. Strategies to improve the bioavailability of puerarin are ongoing, various nanotechnologies and preparation technologies including microemulsions and SMEDDS, dendrimers, nanoparticles and nanocrystals have been researched to improve the bioavailability of puerarin. The neutrons dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMV) are important in the intestinal fat absorption. Inactivation of DMV neurons reduces intestinal fat absorption and consequently causes weight loss, whereas activation of the DMV increases fat absorption and weight gain. Puerarin mimics the suppression of the DMV pathway, which in turn leads to reduced fat absorption and weight loss. Puerarin works by binding to the receptor GABA A receptor.