Puerarin: A Review on the Pharmacological Activity, Chemical Properties and Pharmacokinetics of Main Isoflavonoid

Abstract

: Conventional drugs as a means of alternative medicines have been in use in Asian and African nations and some developed countries for the treatment of ailment and curing of diseases. Objective: Puerarin a naturally occurring isoflavone in numerous plants is one of the conventional medications that possess anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties for the treatment of cardiac illnesses, osteonecrosis, Parkinson’s ailments, Alzheimer’s disorders, and other circulatory and cardiac conditions. Puerarin is extensively distributed in numerous organs comprising the kidney, mammary gland, femur, tibia, stomach, liver, pancreas, brain, and lungs but at a low rate because of its poor availability. However, when co-administered with compounds like gastrodin that can covey it into the cell, it shows a wide range of pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-Alzheimer, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activity. The biotransformation process of puerarin showed that is well metabolized with daidzein being the main hydrolyzed product. Puerarin is well tolerated in the body and dosage of up to 250 mg/kg per day does not initiate any toxic side effect but rather sows a wide range of its beneficial and pharmacological properties.