People have also used it in traditional Chinese medicine for heart disease, but scientists need to do more research on this ( 1, 13). Kudzu root offered heart-protective benefits to mice with burn-induced heart injuries. One animal study found that isoorientin, a compound isolated from kudzu root, boosted antioxidant levels and reduced inflammation markers in mice with swollen paws ( 12). While scientists need to do more research on the health effects of kudzu, some studies suggest that kudzu root may have other health benefits worth considering. However, other research has found inconclusive evidence for this use ( 11). Small studies in people have observed noteworthy improvements in these menopausal symptoms, among others, like vaginal dryness ( 9, 10). Kudzu root may help treat some of the most common menopausal complaints, including hot flashes and night sweats. Kudzu root contains phytoestrogens, plant compounds that scientists have found act similarly to estrogen in the human body ( 7, 8). Some health companies sell the kudzu root species Pueraria mirifica as a supplement for menopausal and postmenopausal women. One study in mice found that kudzu vine extract was highly beneficial in treating alcohol-induced liver damage by scavenging harmful free radicals and boosting the natural antioxidant system ( 6). The isoflavone puerarin is the most abundant antioxidant compound in the kudzu vine ( 6). Kudzu root is rich in antioxidants, compounds that protect cells from oxidative stress that can lead to disease. Thus, scientists need to do more research in this area on the effects of kudzu root specifically. It’s important to note that these studies used kudzu extract, which may have contained other parts of the kudzu plant besides the root. In some instances, even a single dose of kudzu extract reduced alcohol consumption and prevented binge drinking ( 4, 5). This effect has been seen in other studies as well. Researchers found that the kudzu extract had no effect on alcohol cravings, but it reduced the number of weekly alcoholic drinks by 34–57% ( 2).įurthermore, the men who took kudzu had fewer heavy drinking days per week and had significantly more consecutive days with no alcohol consumption ( 2).Īnother study found that people who took puerarin, an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant, prior to drinking took longer to consume alcoholic beverages ( 3). The participants reported their desire for and consumption of alcohol for the duration of the study. The researchers gave participants either kudzu extract or a placebo every day for 4 weeks ( 2). One small study looked at the effects of kudzu in 17 men ages 21–33 who reported drinking approximately 22–35 drinks per week. Some studies suggest kudzu root may help treat alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence. Kudzu root contains more than 70 plant compounds, some of which may be responsible for the root’s potential health benefits ( 1).
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