Puerariae lobatae Radix: Progress in Extraction, Separation Methods and Pharmacological Activities Research

Abstract

Kudzu root (Puerariae lobatae Radix) is the tuberous root of Pueraria lobata, family Leguminosae. Kudzu root contains a variety of beneficial active ingredients such as puerarin, daidzin, daidzein, genistenin, 3′-hydroxy puerarin, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, arachidic acid, and so on. Modern medical research shows that active ingredients in kudzu root are widely used clinically as raw materials for the treatment of hyperglycemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, myocardial infarction, alcohol addiction, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and retinal blockage due to their various pharmacological effects such as improving cardiovascular circulation, lowering blood lipids, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood sugar, being antipyretic, being estrogen-like, and relieving alcohol. China has rich resources of kudzu root, and active ingredients are usually extracted before it is made into a preparation, so whether the extraction and separation process is reasonable will directly affect the ease of preparation and the efficacy of the treatment. This paper reviews the process methods for the extraction and separation of active ingredients in kudzu root and its common pharmacological activities. The aim is to provide some references for readers to compare the advantages and disadvantages of various extraction and separation methods as well as understand the active ingredients and pharmacological activities of kudzu root.