Chemical Composition of Pueraria mirifica Herb

The compounds that make Pueraria mirifica different from any other phytoestrogen containing plants in the Family Leguminosae are Miroestrol and Deoxymiroestrol, which possess highest estrogenic activity among the known phytoestrogens due to structural similarity to estradiol, Miroestrol was actually the first compound isolated from this plant by a group of German chemists in 1940, but the plant had been mistakenly reported then as Butea superba. It was later on classified as a new plant called Pueraria mirifica Airy Shaw et Suvatabhandu.

The isolation and identification of deoxymiroestrol from the root of Pueraria mirifica has just been reported in the February 2000  issue of the Journal of Natural Products, The authors proposed that  since deoxymiroestrol is easily oxidized to miroestrol, deoxymiroestrol, not the previously reported miroestrol, is more likely to be the actual chemical constituent of Pueraria mirifica.

However, it is very likely that the two phytoestrogens coexist in the root of this plant. As shown below, the chemical structures of two compounds are very similar to that of estradiol, the main human estrogen.

In addition to miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, Pueraria mirifica also contains other chemicals that belong to isoflavone and coumestran groups of phytoestrogens, e.g., Genistein, Daidzein, Daidzin, Genistin, and Coumestrol that are usually found in soybeans (Table 1). However, the estrogenic activity of Miroestrol and Deoxymiroestrol is much more potent than that of soy isoflavones.

Table 1: Chromene, Isoflavonoid and coumestran derivatives in Pueraria mirifica
Chromene	Isoflavones	Isoflavone	Coumestans glycosides
Miroestrol	Daidzein	Daidzin	Coumestrol
Deoxymiroestrol	Genistein	Genistin	Mirificoumestan
	Kawakhurin	Mirificin	Mirificoumestan glycol
	Kawakhurin hydrate	Puerarin	Mirificoumestan hydrate
		Puerarin-6” monoacetate

What is benefit effects of Chemical composition from Pueraria mirifica?

While Soya and Alfafa contains low amount and low estrogenic of the phytoestrogens, many researches pointed out the benefit effects of those chemicals, especially to act as a Potent Anti-Breast Cancer, Anti-Prostate Cancer, Anti-Colon Cancer, Anti-Cardio-Vascular diesase via the reduction of blood cholestrol and also Anti-Menopausal Syndrome. The phytoestrogens in the Pueraria mirifica ( White Kwao Krua) is more concentrated and higher efficacy. By this distinguish property, biotechnology application has shown up for this herb.