kudzu

Leaf area index (LAI) measured for the actual plant canopy is higher than the LAI that maximizes canopy photosynthesis (referred to as optimal LAI) because each individual can increase its light interception by unilaterally producing more leaf area. The LAI of an invasive woody vine Pueraria lobata (kudzu) is one of the highest among plant species, sometimes attaining nearly 10 m2 m-2. The high LAI casts heavy shade over neighboring plants, making their survival difficult. Interesting to note is that the high LAI also increases self-shading, thereby decreasing its own photosynthesis processes...

This paper documents the preparation of three biopolymer films: 1) pearl millet starch (PMS) films, 2) PMS films reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and 3) PMS films reinforced with CNCs stabilized Pickering emulsion of clove bud oil (CBO) and a comparison of their mechanical and water barrier properties and biodegradation behavior in soil. Reinforcing PMS films with Kudzu CNCs/CBO significantly increased tensile strength (from 3.9 to 16.7 MPa) and Young's modulus (from 90 to 376 MPa) but reduced the elongation (54...

A new virus, tentatively named "kudzu virus D" (KuVD) was discovered in kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) in South Korea. Its complete genome comprises 7,922 nucleotides, excluding the poly(A) tail, and contains five open reading frames (ORFs) encoding, from 5' to 3', a replicase (ORF1), three triple gene block proteins TGB1-3 (ORF2-ORF4), and a coat protein (ORF5). This genome organization is typical of members of the subfamily Quinvirinae of the family Betaflexiviridae. Pairwise alignment analysis revealed that the nucleotide sequences of the replicase and coat protein of KuVD were 12...

Myocardial dysfunction is well-recognized manifestations of organ dysfunction in sepsis, which is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients. The underlying mechanisms associated with sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) include cardiac contractility, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Kudzu celery decoction (KCD) is composed of a variety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as kudzu and celery. The previous study found that the main ingredients in kudzu and celery have also been proved to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and other biological activities...

Superheated steam (SST) at different moisture contents (10% ∼ 30%) was used to prevent the agglomeration of kudzu starch during rapid pasting with hot water. Changes in pasting-related properties and multi-scale structures were investigated. At moisture content of 20%, SST dramatically reduced the agglomeration rate from 42.20% to 2.97% without destroying the microstructure of kudzu starch or deteriorating the rheological properties of kudzu starch paste, which was superior to the conventional pre-gelatinization treatment...

Pediatric solid tumors (PSTs) are life-threatening and can lead to high morbidity and mortality rates in children. Developing novel remedies to treat these tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme and sarcomas, such as osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, is challenging, despite immense attempts with chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic interventions. Soy ( Glycine max ) and kudzu roots (KR) ( Pueraria spp.) are well-known phytoestrogenic botanical sources that contain high amounts of naturally occurring isoflavones...

In the current study, starch-based active nanocomposite films reinforced with cellulosic nanocrystals (CNCs) of Kudzu were developed as an alternative option to existing biodegradable plastic packaging. Firstly, Kudzu CNCs were prepared by subjecting Kudzu fibers to the processes such as depolymerization followed by bleaching, acid hydrolysis, and mechanical dispersion. Further, nanocomposite films were formulated by blending pearl millet starch (PMS) and glycerol (30%) with different Kudzu CNCs compositions (0-7 wt%) using the solution casting process...

The study was carried out on alcohol-preferring male Wistar rats. The following drugs were repeatedly (28×) administered: acamprosate (500 mg/kg, p.o.), naltrexone (0.1 mg/kg, i.p), and Pueraria lobata (kudzu) root extract (KU) (500 mg/kg, p.o.) and its isoflavones: daidzin (40 mg/kg, p.o.) and puerarin (150 mg/kg, p.o.). Their effects on a voluntary alcohol intake were assessed. KU and alcohol were also given for 9 days in an experiment on alcohol tolerance development. Finally, total and active ghrelin levels in peripheral blood serum were measured by ELISA method...

The mass rearing of hymenopteran egg parasitoids requires an abundant supply of host eggs. The onset of reproductive diapause and subsequent decline in egg production poses a challenge for parasitoid rearing when using host colonies augmented by field-collected insects. We investigated the application of pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog, to induce oviposition in diapausing adult kudzu bugs, Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae), and the use of eggs produced by pyriproxyfen-treated kudzu bugs to rear the egg parasitoid, Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)...

We report here the whole-genome sequence and draft assembly for a bioherbicidal strain of Albifimbria verrucaria, CABI-IMI 368023, which was formerly identified as Myrothecium verrucaria . This isolate has been well studied for the biological control of important weeds, including kudzu and giant salvinia.

BACKGROUND: Kudzu is a term used generically to describe members of the genus Pueraria. Kudzu roots have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine in view of their high levels of beneficial isoflavones including the unique 8-C-glycoside of daidzein, puerarin. In the US, kudzu is seen as a noxious weed causing ecological and economic damage. However, not all kudzu species make puerarin or are equally invasive. Kudzu remains difficult to identify due to its diverse morphology and inconsistent nomenclature...

Cadmium (Cd) has well-known central nervous system toxicity, and mitochondria are direct targets of Cd-induced neuronal toxicity. However, how Cd induces mitochondrial mass decrease in terms of its neurotoxic effects remains unknown. Puerarin, an isoflavone extracted from kudzu root, can cross the blood-brain barrier and exert protective effects in nervous system disease. The purpose of the study was to determine the mechanism of Cd-induced mitochondrial mass decrease and the protective role of puerarin in rat cortical neurons...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common pathology among aging men. Despite the broad pharmacological interventions, the available remedies to treat BPH are yet not devoid of side effects. Herbal compounds are suggested to be an alternative option for the BPH treatment. In our study, we evaluated the effect of kudzu isoflavones and astaxanthin on the BPH animal model. The animals were randomly divided into five groups: control; testosterone-induced BPH group; and three BPH-induced groups, which received intragastrically for 28 days finasteride (5 mg/kg) as a positive control, isoflavones (200 mg/kg), and astaxanthin (25 mg/kg)...

It is an urgent need to exploit a potentially green, cost efficient and eco-friendly strategy for the utilization of waste kudzu vine. We developed a one-step green preparation of kudzu vine biochar (BC) decorated graphene-like molybdenum selenide (MoSe2 ) with the oxidase-like activity as intelligent nanozyme sensing platform for voltametric detection of hesperetin (HP) in orange peel using the in-situ hydrothermal synthesis method. The structure and properties of MoSe2 -BC was characterized, and found that BC significantly improved electrochemical cycle stability, electronic conductivity, electrochemical active area, and electrocatalytic activity of MoSe2 ...

The clinical and experimental study into the effects of Chinese herbal medicines on chronic kidney disease has evolved over the past 40 years with new insight into their mechanism and evidence of their clinical effects. Among the many traditional Chinese herbs examined in chronic renal disease, five were found to have evidence of sufficient clinical efficacy, high frequency of use, and well-studied mechanism. They are: Abelmoschus manihot and Huangkui capsule , Salvia miltiorrhiza and its components (tanshinone II A, salvianolic acid A and B); Rhizoma coptidis and its monomer berberine ; Tripterygium wilfordii and its components (triptolide, tripterygium glycosides); Kudzu root Pueraria and its monomer Puerarin ...

Background: Menopause is associated with detrimental changes in turnover of bone and cartilage and a variety of symptoms with negative impact on the quality of life. Naturally occurring isoflavones from Radix Pueraria lobata , Kudzu root, may possess chondroprotective and symptom-relieving properties, but efficacy and safety of dosing and dose frequencies required for pharmacological action is unclear. Purpose: This clinical trial evaluates the efficacy on bone and cartilage turnover, menopausal symptoms, and safety of five dose regimens of Kudzu root extract administered either once, twice or three times daily in women with at least mild menopausal symptoms...

Kudzu is a traditional medicinal dietary supplement, and recent research has shown its significant benefits in the prevention/treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Starch is one of the main substances in Kudzu that contribute decisively to the treatment of T2DM. However, the underlying mechanism of the hypoglycemic activity is not clear. In this study, the effect of Kudzu resistant starch supplementation on the insulin resistance, gut physical barrier, and gut microbiota was investigated in T2DM mice...

Kudzu, Pueraria lobata , is a traditional Chinese food and medicinal herb that has been commonly used since ancient times. Kudzu roots are rich sources of isoflavonoids, e.g., puerarin, with beneficial effects on human health. To gain global information on the isoflavonoid biosynthetic regulation network in kudzu, de novo transcriptome sequencings were performed using two genotypes of kudzu with and without puerarin accumulation in roots. RNAseq data showed that the genes of the isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway were significantly represented in the upregulated genes in the kudzu with puerarin...

Gentamicin (GM) is a commonly used antibiotic, and ototoxicity is one of its side effects. Puerarin (PU) is an isoflavone in kudzu roots that exerts a number of pharmacological effects, including antioxidative and free radical scavenging effects. The present study investigated whether PU could protect against GM‑induced ototoxicity in C57BL/6J mice and House Ear Institute‑Organ of Corti 1 (HEI‑OC1) cells. C57BL/6J mice and HEI‑OC1 cells were used to establish models of GM‑induced ototoxicity in this study...

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, known as kudzu , is one of the most popular traditional medicines in Asian countries. It has been widely used as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy for treating postmenopausal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the estrogenic effect of P. lobata extract (PE) against postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX rats were treated with PE (25-1600 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Biochemical parameters, estradiol, and bone turnover markers (e.g., osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide fragment of type I collagen, deoxypyridinoline, and pyridinoline) were measured in plasma samples...