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What Is Pueraria Mirifica?
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Pueraria mirifica or White Kwao Krua (the Thai name) is a plant of Lequminosae family. Scientific name is Pueraria candollei Grah var. mirifica Airy Shaw et suvatabandhu (named after the discoverer). Pueraria is a type of hard vine that grows up and climbs around large trees. Palmate type leaves, with three leaves in one petiole; its leaves are simple (ovate) and angle leaf tips. Flowers are bluish purple, a cluster of 30 centimeters length at the end of its twig. The flower is similar to a bean flower, each composes of five petals, the outer part is the biggest one, the two petals on both sides are curved, and the interior petals wrap an ovary. The plant flowers from February to March, produces pods in April. Aged brown flat pods produce 3-5 seeds. Tuberous roots are in different sizes. Its appearance is similar to a yam root. Inside, the root is white and the taste can cause dizziness. Root sizes are various depending on the soil condition or the environment and the time of cropping. A single tuberous root can weigh as much as 100 kg.
Pueraria mirifica plants are found only in Thailand. Even though there have been reports of finding plants in the same family "Pueraria", in other Asian countries, these plant are of a different species and do not possess the same qualities from Pueraria mirifica.
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Pueraria mirifica is a climbing plant. It usually grows in mountainous areas intertwinedwith trees. There are three small leaves on each branch and purple blooms on top. The root tubers are round and grow deep, under the ground. When cut, a white skim milk like liquid comes out. The shape and size of Pueraria mirifica is diverse and often differs within each environment. Extracts aremade by concentrating the active ingredients from the root.
The plant was identified as Pueraria mirifica. The estrogenic substance was isolated and tested on mice. Its effect was confirmed and it was named Miroestrol. Since then, there are hundred of researches on application on human and animal. In human, it is used as tonic and ingredient for cosmetics. New application of Pueraria mirifica has just been introduced recently. With modern extraction technology, the dried roots are extracted and standardized into powder extract and solution extract, used in swine industry as a growth promoter and as a birth controller.
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