Pueraria montana var. lobata
East asian arrowroot
Pueraria montana var. lobata, commonly known as kudzu, is a perennial climbing vine native to East Asia. Renowned in traditional medicine for its bioactive compounds, it is widely used to treat various ailments, including inflammation and alcohol cravings. This potent medicinal plant offers significant therapeutic potential in modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Pueraria montana var. lobata
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Pueraria. Specifically, its taxonomic designation is Pueraria montana var. lobata.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pueraria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Pueraria montana var. lobata, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Japanese, it is referred to as クズ, while in Chinese, it is called 葛麻姆. In Korean, the plant is known as 칡, and in Spanish, it is commonly identified as Pueraria lobata. Additionally, in Arabic, it is referred to as كودزو.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ja | クズ | Wikidata |
| zh | 葛麻姆 | Wikidata |
| ko | 칡 | Wikidata |
| es | Pueraria lobata | Wikidata |
| ar | كودزو | Wikidata |
| ca | Kudzu | Wikidata |
| fa | تیریشه | Wikidata |
| to | Fueʻaepuaka | Wikidata |
| yue | 葛 | Wikidata |
| ml | ജാപ്പനീസ് കൂവ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions of Europe and its surrounding islands. In Southeastern Europe, its presence is noted in Italy as well as throughout the Northwest Balkan Peninsula. Moving toward Eastern Europe, the species can be found growing in both Crimea and Ukraine. Beyond the mainland, its range extends into the Atlantic region specifically within the Macaronesia archipelago. Notably, it is also documented as being present in the Azores.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | NW. Balkan Pen. | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | Krym | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | Ukraine | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Azores | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Pueraria montana var. lobata, is a climbing legume that utilizes various anatomical structures for its growth and medicinal properties. The stem serves as a long, twining vine that allows the plant to ascend through surrounding vegetation. For nourishment and anchorage, the plant develops a robust root system, and the deep-seated roots are often the primary parts harvested for their bioactive compounds. During its reproductive cycle, the plant produces delicate, pea-like flower structures, and the collective display of its colorful flowers attracts pollinators to ensure successful seed production.- Total parts
- 24
- Scientific sources
- 54
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root | 14 | ★★★★★ |
| roots | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| flower | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| flowers | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| radix | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Root | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root tuber | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root system | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pueraria montana var. lobata has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Formononetin, Puerarin, flavonoid, puerarin.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Formononetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Puerarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| puerarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pueraria montana var. lobata has 15 reported activities identified across 41 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Estrogenic, Hypoglycemic, Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 41
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antithrombotic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pueraria montana var. lobata has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include convulsions, fever, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| convulsions | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |