Kudzu root extract improves glycemic control in non‐glucose‐impaired mice.

The root of kudzu (Pueraria radix ) is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. A recent study demonstrated that puerarin, the dominant isoflavone in kudzu, improved glucose handling in ob − /ob − mice (J. Agric. Food Chem. 53:8760–8767, 2005). Interestingly, daidzin (the second main isoflavone in kudzu) significantly impaired glucose handling in that model. The antagonistic actions of the two major kudzu isoflavones raised the question of whether whole kudzu root extract would affect glucose handling. Further, the effect of kudzu in non‐glucose‐impaired rodent models was unknown. The present study investigated whether dietary kudzu root extract supplementation improves glycemic control in non‐impaired mice. Male Cd‐1 mice were lightly anesthetized with isofluorane and blood glucose measured in tail blood. Mice were then orally gavaged with kudzu extract (75 mg/kg BW) or vehicle followed by an oral glucose challenge (OGTT; 2 g/kg BW), and blood glucose measured at 15‐minute intervals for 2 hours. In mice receiving kudzu extract, the peak change in blood glucose following the OGTT was significantly lower than in mice receiving vehicle (+76 vs. 109 mg/dl, respectively). Further, the overall glucose response was significantly attenuated by kudzu extract. These results suggest that kudzu extract improves glycemic control in non‐glucose‐impaired mice, and that this effect is likely mediated by puerarin.