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

Conventional drugs, as means of alternative medicine, have been in use in the Asian and African nations and some developed countries for the treatment of ailments and cure of diseases. Objective: Puerarin, a naturally occurring isoflavone in numerous plants, is one of the conventional medication that possess anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties for the treatment of cardiac illnesses, osteonecrosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other circulatory conditions. Puerarin is extensively distributed in numerous organs including 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 convey it into the cell, it shows a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-Alzheimer's, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activity. The biotransformation process of puerarin showed that it is well metabolized with daidzein, being the main hydrolyzed product. Puerarin is well tolerated in the body with a dosage of up to 250 mg/kg per day, does not initiate any toxic side effects but rather shows a wide range of beneficial and pharmacological properties.