✵This article documents the herb Kudzuvine Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi and (2) Pueraria thomsonii Benth.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two plants; the morphological features of the herb Kudzuvine Root; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Radix Puerariae (Kudzuvine Root)
Pinyin Name: Gě Gēn
English Name: Kudzuvine Root, Lobed Kudzuvine Root
Latin Name:Radix Puerariae Properties and Flavor: cool, pungent, sweet
Brief Introduction:Radix Puerariae is the dried root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi or Pueraria thomsonii Benth., used (1) to reduce heat in exterior syndromes accompanied by fever and painful stiffness of the nape and back; (2) to relieve thirst in febrile diseases and diabetes mellitus; (3) to alleviate diarrhea due to spleen deficiency; and (4) to promote the eruption of measles. The herb is commonly known as Radix Puerariae, Kudzuvine Root, or Gě Gēn.
Botanical Source:Radix Puerariae (Kudzuvine Root) is the dried root of (1) Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi or (2) Pueraria thomsonii Benth., both belonging to the genus Pueraria, family Fabaceae (Leguminosae, pea family), order Fabales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Botanical Description:Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi is also known as Pueraria thunbergiana (Sieb. et Zucc.) Benth., Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.) Schneid., and Pueraria pseudo-hirsuta Tang et Wang. It is a perennial deciduous vine that grows long—up to 10 meters. It is commonly known as Yé Gé or wild Pueraria. The entire plant is covered with brown pubescence. The root tuber is cylindrical and hypertrophied; the outer bark is grayish-yellow, the inner part is starchy (powdery), and strongly fibrous. The stem has a thick base, with the upper portion highly branched. Leaves are trifoliolate; the terminal petiolule is longer; leaf blades are rhomboid-ovate, 5.5–19 cm long and 4.5–18 cm wide, with an acuminate apex and a rounded (sometimes lobed) base; lateral leaflets are smaller, obliquely ovate, asymmetrical on both sides, with a pale abaxial surface bearing pruina, and both surfaces covered with white appressed pubescence; stipules are peltate (shield-shaped) and inserted, ovate-oblong, with small acicular stipels.
Racemes are axillary or terminal; the corolla is bluish-violet (royal purple) or purple; bracts are narrowly linear and caducous; bractlets are oval or lanceolate; the calyx is campanulate, 0.8–1 cm long, with five lanceolate calyx teeth—two upper teeth connate, and the lower tooth are longer; vexilla are orbicular (subrotund) or oval, with a slightly concave apex and two short auricles at the base; alae (wing petals) are narrowly elliptic, shorter than the vexillum, usually bearing a basal auricle on one side; keel petals are slightly longer than the alae; there are ten stamens, diadelphous; the ovary is linear, and the style is curved.
Pods are linear, 6–9 cm long and 7–10 mm wide, densely covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) hirsute hairs. Seeds are ovoid, auburn, and glossy. The flowering period is from April to August; the fruiting period is from August to October.
Growth Characteristics: The plant grows on mountain slopes, roadside grasslands, and damp fields. It exhibits strong adaptability and can be cultivated on sunny, humid, barren slopes or forest edges; however, optimal cultivation occurs in deep, fertile, loose sandy soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: The kudzu root is cut into straight rectangular thick slices or small cubes, 5–35 cm in length and 0.5–1 cm in thickness. The cortex is light brown to brown, rough, and bears longitudinal wrinkles. The fracture surface is coarse, yellowish-white to yellowish-brown, with 1–3 faintly visible concentric rings. The texture is strongly fibrous and slightly starchy (powdery). The herb is odorless or has a faint odor, and tastes slightly sweet.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Effects on the circulatory system; (2) spasmolytic effect; (3) hypoglycemic effect; (4) antipyretic effect.
Medicinal Efficacy: Releases the exterior to expel wind-heat; promotes the eruption of measles; generates fluids to relieve thirst; elevates spleen Yang to arrest diarrhea; and mitigates the toxicity of alcoholic beverages. The root contains flavonoids, which exert hypoglycemic and antihypertensive effects, dilate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels, and may promote mammary development and reduce abdominal fat.
Administration of Radix Puerariae (Gě Gēn):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Puerariae (Gě Gēn)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (approximately 4.5–9 grams), or as fresh juice; externally: appropriate amount, mashed and applied topically; (3) water decoction, 10–15 grams, or as fresh juice; externally: appropriate amount, mashed and applied topically.
(2) Pueraria thomsonii Benth.
Botanical Description:Pueraria thomsonii Benth. is a climbing vine, commonly known as Gān Gé Téng or sweet kudzuvine. The root is hypertrophied. Stems and branches are covered with yellowish-brown short pubescence or mixed hirsute hairs. Leaves are trifoliolate with long petioles; stipules are oblong-lanceolate and pilose; leaflets are rhomboid-ovate to broadly ovate—sometimes 3-lobed—9–21 cm long and 8–18 cm wide, with a short-acuminate apex and a rounded base.
Racemes are axillary; bracteoles are oval; the calyx is campanulate, 1.2–1.5 cm long, with five lanceolate calyx teeth longer than the hypanthium (calyx tube) and covered with yellow hirsute hairs; the corolla is purple, 1.3–1.8 cm long.
Pods are long-oval and flattened, 10–12 cm long and 1–1.2 cm wide, densely covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) hirsute hairs. Seeds are reniform or nearly round. Flowering occurs from June to September; fruiting occurs from August to October.
Growth Characteristics: The plant is cultivated or grows wild in mountain shrublands and sparse forests.
Characteristics of the Herb: The roots are cylindrical, fusiform (spindle-shaped), or semi-cylindrical; some are longitudinal slices or thick oblique slices, varying in size. The peeled surface is yellowish-white or pale yellow; the unpeeled surface is grayish-brown. The texture is hard and heavy, weakly fibrous, tomentose (covered with woolly hairs), and starchy (powdery).
✵This article documents the herb Kudzuvine Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi and (2) Pueraria thomsonii Benth.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two plants; the morphological features of the herb Kudzuvine Root; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Gě Gēn
Botanical Description: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi is also known as Pueraria thunbergiana (Sieb. et Zucc.) Benth., Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.) Schneid., and Pueraria pseudo-hirsuta Tang et Wang. It is a perennial deciduous vine that grows long—up to 10 meters. It is commonly known as Yé Gé or wild Pueraria. The entire plant is covered with brown pubescence. The root tuber is cylindrical and hypertrophied; the outer bark is grayish-yellow, the inner part is starchy (powdery), and strongly fibrous. The stem has a thick base, with the upper portion highly branched. Leaves are trifoliolate; the terminal petiolule is longer; leaf blades are rhomboid-ovate, 5.5–19 cm long and 4.5–18 cm wide, with an acuminate apex and a rounded (sometimes lobed) base; lateral leaflets are smaller, obliquely ovate, asymmetrical on both sides, with a pale abaxial surface bearing pruina, and both surfaces covered with white appressed pubescence; stipules are peltate (shield-shaped) and inserted, ovate-oblong, with small acicular stipels.
Botanical Description: Pueraria thomsonii Benth. is a climbing vine, commonly known as Gān Gé Téng or sweet kudzuvine. The root is hypertrophied. Stems and branches are covered with yellowish-brown short pubescence or mixed hirsute hairs. Leaves are trifoliolate with long petioles; stipules are oblong-lanceolate and pilose; leaflets are rhomboid-ovate to broadly ovate—sometimes 3-lobed—9–21 cm long and 8–18 cm wide, with a short-acuminate apex and a rounded base.
Characteristics of the Herb: The roots are cylindrical, fusiform (spindle-shaped), or semi-cylindrical; some are longitudinal slices or thick oblique slices, varying in size. The peeled surface is yellowish-white or pale yellow; the unpeeled surface is grayish-brown. The texture is hard and heavy, weakly fibrous, tomentose (covered with woolly hairs), and starchy (powdery).
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