Abstract:

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae), a traditional edible and medicinal plant in China, is used in in
traditional Chinese medicine. Puerarin is one of its most important and effective components. According to the traditional
Chinese medicinal theory, the roots of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae) have many functions such as relieving
exterior syndrome, reducing fervescence, promoting the secretion of saliva or body fluid, and quenching thirst. Modern
pharmacological research suggest that both Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae) and puerarin exert cerebral
protections in animal or cell models of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke, and the mechanisms
involved may be associated with regulating the GSK-3β/Nrf2, PI3K/Akt and cAMP/PKA apoptosis signal pathways.
These results indicate that Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae) has the potential to be developed into health
foods against nervous system diseases.

Key words: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae), puerarin, cerebral protection, health food