Herbs & Botanicals · Ayurvedic tonic tuber
Vidari kanda
Pueraria tuberosa · also called Indian kudzu, vidari, vidarikand, vidari kand
Vidari kanda is the tuber of an Indian climbing plant used in Ayurveda as a nourishing tonic, a milk-booster for nursing mothers and a men's vitality herb. Human research is very thin: one small trial of 30 people reported lower blood pressure, and everything else is from rats and lab dishes. The tuber has plant estrogen-like compounds, and a rat study found liver damage with repeated use of an extract. Several other plants are also sold as vidari, so ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you are pregnant, nursing, have a hormone-sensitive condition, liver disease, or take medicines for blood pressure, diabetes or clotting.
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About Vidari kanda
Vidari kanda is a traditional Ayurvedic tonic tuber with almost no human research. Its hormone-like compounds, a liver warning from rats and the habit of selling other plants under the same name matter more than any proven benefit.
Safety first
Hormones: the tuber contains plant estrogen-like compounds (isoflavones such as puerarin, daidzein and genistein). In rats, puerarin changed estrogen and progesterone receptor activity in the womb lining. No human hormone study was found. If you have a hormone-sensitive cancer or condition, ask your specialist first.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: at high amounts puerarin stopped embryos from implanting in rats, and the tuber is traditionally an emmenagogue. It is also traditionally given to nursing mothers, but there are no human safety data. Avoid medicinal amounts unless a clinician who knows you agrees.
Liver: a methanol extract damaged rat livers in a dose-dependent way, and the authors warn about long-term use. No human liver cases were found, and the one human trial reported no side effects in 15 people. Absence of reports is not proof of safety.
Medicines, by evidence type: blood pressure fell in a small human trial (possible extra effect with blood pressure drugs); extracts changed gut hormones and sugar handling in rats (possible extra effect with diabetes drugs); the trial reported changes in clotting markers (theoretical effect with blood thinners); hormone medicines are a theory based on rat and lab findings.
The right plant: Pueraria tuberosa, Ipomoea mauritiana, Adenia hondala and a cycad's pith are all traded as vidari. Ipomoea digitata is yet another plant with its own animal studies. Read the Latin name on the label.
What it is
Vidari kanda is the tuber of Pueraria tuberosa, a perennial herb of the pea family found in India and other parts of Asia. It is called Indian kudzu, but it is not the same plant as the Chinese kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata, which has its own human trials.
Main chemicals include isoflavones (puerarin, daidzein, genistein, biochanin A) and the xanthone mangiferin.
What the research shows
People: one 12-week trial in 30 adults with mildly raised blood pressure (single-blinded, placebo-controlled) reported falls of 25 mmHg systolic and 11 mmHg diastolic and no side effects. The abstract does not make clear what the figures were compared with, and 15 people per group is very small.
Animals and lab: rat studies on milk supply, male behaviour, bone loss, blood sugar and liver effects, and a livestock worm study. These are mostly extracts or isolated compounds, not the traditional powder.
A related kudzu root extract (a different plant) was tested in 50 postmenopausal women in an open-label 4-week study; it does not show that Indian kudzu works.
Regulatory status
We found no EMA herbal monograph, no NCCIH page and no LiverTox or LactMed entry for Pueraria tuberosa. Not found does not prove none exists. FDA, WHO and German Commission E records were not checked.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Restorative tonic (rasayana) and anti-ageing
- Milk supply after childbirth
- Male vitality and aphrodisiac
- Heart and menopause complaints
- Used in the Chyavanaprash tonic
Studied for research
- Blood pressure (one small trial): very-low
- Milk supply (rats): insufficient
- Male vitality (rats): insufficient
- Menopause and bone (rats): insufficient
- Blood sugar (rats): insufficient
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (lab): insufficient
Main compounds
- Puerarin
- Daidzein
- Genistein
- Biochanin A
- Mangiferin
Common forms
- Dried tuber powder (traditionally with milk or honey)
- Capsules or tablets
- Water or solvent extracts (mostly lab studies)
- Ayurvedic formulas such as Chyavanaprash
Research links: Bharti 2021: Pueraria tuberosa review (PubMed) · Verma 2012: blood pressure trial, 30 adults (PubMed) · Santosh 2010: liver effects in rats (PubMed) · Devaiah 2011: plants traded as Vidari (PubMed) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
The plant and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC.
- Naming authority
- GBIF species match API, read 2026-10-25: ACCEPTED, key 2977609, Fabaceae.
- Synonyms
- Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. is itself the accepted name; synonyms were not read.
- Common names
- Vidari kanda, vidarikand, vidari (Hindi / Sanskrit (Ayurveda)); Indian kudzu (English)
- Botanical family
- Fabaceae (pea family)
- Classification
- Plantae > Fabaceae > Pueraria > Pueraria tuberosa
- Native range
- The 2020 review says distributed throughout India and other Asian countries.
- Habitat
- Not verified.
- What the plant looks like
- Roots: The tuber is the main part used.; Stems: Perennial herb (review). Details not verified.; Leaves: Leaf extracts also studied (review).; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: Not verified.
- Cultivation
- Not verified.
- Harvest and processing
- Traditionally dried and powdered, often mixed with milk. Not verified in the sources read.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata / Pueraria lobata); Note: A closely related Chinese and East Asian plant; GBIF accepts Pueraria montana (key 2977636). Its root extract has human trials; those are not results for Indian kudzu. See our kudzu page.; Name: Ipomoea digitata (Convolvulaceae); Note: A separate plant often confused in name; GBIF key 8249252. Its studies on blood sugar and sperm density are not about Pueraria tuberosa.; Name: Ipomoea mauritiana (Convolvulaceae); Note: Traded as Vidari; GBIF key 4927144; DNA marker published (2011).; Name: Adenia hondala (Passifloraceae) and Cycas circinalis pith (Cycadaceae); Note: Also traded as Vidari according to the same paper. Their safety was not researched here.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not covered.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda | Restorative tonic, anti-ageing, spermatogenic and immune-boosting; recommended for heart disease, enlarged liver and spleen, fertility problems, menopausal syndrome, sexual weakness and spermatorrhoea. | p24980468 |
| Ayurveda (milk and Chyavanaprash) | Used as an aphrodisiac and milk-booster, and in the Chyavanaprash tonic. | p21738554 |
| Chinese traditional practices | The review says the tuber and leaves are used in Ayurveda and also in Chinese traditional practices. Details not verified. | p33708108 |
| Folk medicine | Emmenagogue (to bring on periods). | p22919047 |
| Ethnoveterinary, eastern India | Used to rejuvenate livestock and treat worms (185 informants). | p39028725 |
Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerarin PubChem 5281807 | isoflavone C-glycoside | Tuber | Raised prolactin and breast blood flow in lactating rats; stopped implantation in rats at high amounts; docking to dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. 12 7 13 | Animal research |
| Daidzein PubChem 5281708 | isoflavone | Tuber | Predicted by docking to bind estrogen receptors alpha and beta. 12 15 | In silico |
| Genistein PubChem 5280961 | isoflavone | Tuber | Predicted by docking to bind estrogen receptors alpha and beta. 12 15 | In silico |
| Mangiferin PubChem 5281647 | xanthone glycoside | Tuber | Listed as a constituent in the review. 12 1 | Review |
| Biochanin A / formononetin | isoflavone | Tuber | Found by LC-MS in an ethanol extract with puerarin and daidzein. 3 | Laboratory research |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estrogen receptors | ER alpha, ER beta, progesterone receptor | Puerarin changed womb-lining receptor activity in rats; genistein and daidzein docked to ERs. 13 15 | Animal research |
| Gut hormones and sugar handling | GLP-1, GIP, DPP-IV | Water extract raised after-meal gut hormones and lowered DPP-IV in rats. 16 | Animal research |
| Milk hormone | Prolactin; dopamine D2; serotonin 5-HT2A | Puerarin raised prolactin in rats; docking only for the receptors. 7 | Animal research |
| Male hormones | FSH, LH, testosterone | Ethanol extract affected levels at highest dose in rats. 3 | Animal research |
| Clotting | Fibrinogen; fibrinolysis | Fibrinogen fell and fibrinolytic activity rose in the human trial. 17 | Human (small) |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not covered in sources read.
- Distribution
- Not covered.
- Metabolism
- Not covered.
- Elimination
- Not covered.
- Bioavailability
- Not covered.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The pregnancy and milk findings are for isolated puerarin at high amounts in rats, not for the whole tuber. The liver finding is for a methanol extract. Whole tuber powder was used only in the one blood pressure trial.
Nutritional composition
The tuber is eaten as a nourishing food-like tonic in tradition, and ethnic communities in eastern India use it for nutritional and medicinal value. It is not a recognised source of any vitamin or mineral in the sources read.
1 very low certainty7 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 8 benefits and uses checked for Vidari kanda, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Blood pressure (stage 1 hypertension)Very low certainty
- Breast milk supply (galactagogue)Not enough evidence
- Male vitality and fertilityNot enough evidence
- Menopause and bone lossNot enough evidence
- Blood sugar and diabetes (animal and lab)Not enough evidence
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (lab)Not enough evidence
- Traditional tonic (rasayana) useNot enough evidence
- Worms in livestock (lab)Not enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Systolic blood pressureDiastolic blood pressurePlasma fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activitySerum prolactin (rats)FSH, LH and testosterone (rats)Bone breakdown marker CTX-I (different species)DPP-IV enzyme activity (rats)GLP-1 and GIP after meals (rats)Blood glucose (different plant, Ipomoea digitata)
What is Vidari kanda good for?
The studied uses and how strong the evidence is. Nearly all of it is from tradition, rats or the lab. No use is proven in people.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Blood pressure (stage 1 hypertension)
Very low certaintyOne small trial of 30 adults with mildly high blood pressure reported a fall in blood pressure over 12 weeks with the tuber. It is the only human trial found, and it is too small and too poorly described to rely on.
2 studiesPowdered tuber, as reported by the trial (preparation not described).
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One placebo-controlled, single-blinded trial: 15 adults on the tuber and 15 on placebo for 12 weeks, in Udaipur, India. The abstract reports falls in systolic, diastolic and mean pressure and says no untoward side effects occurred. It does not say whether the changes are measured against baseline or against the placebo group.
Results
Reported falls of 25 mmHg (systolic), 11 mmHg (diastolic) and 16 mmHg (mean) at the end of 12 weeks.
Effect sizes as reported
Systolic -25, diastolic -11, mean -16 mmHg as reported; no confidence intervals in the abstract.
Why this rating
One tiny single-blinded trial, preparation not described, comparison basis unclear, no repeat by others.
Form and dose studied
Powdered tuber, as reported by the trial (preparation not described).
Who was studied
Adults with stage 1 hypertension.
Limits
Very small, single centre, single-blinded, not registered, not repeated.
Why researchers looked
Vidari kanda is traditionally recommended for heart conditions, and a small Indian trial tested it in people with mildly raised pressure.
Traditional use
Reviews list cardiovascular disease among the traditional uses of the tuber.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
The trial also reported lower fibrinogen (a clotting protein), more fibrinolytic activity (clot breakdown) and higher antioxidant status. How the tuber would do this was not tested.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Could add to blood pressure medicines and cause dizziness; see the safety tab. Do not replace prescribed treatment.
Breast milk supply (galactagogue)
Not enough evidenceVidari kanda is traditionally given to nursing mothers to raise milk. The only recent test is in rats, using the isolated compound puerarin. No human trial was found.
2 studiesTuber extracts and isolated puerarin (in rats). The nursing mother's …
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial of the tuber or of puerarin for milk supply was found. The rat study (2024) compared puerarin, tuber extracts and domperidone, a medicine used for this purpose.
Results
In lactating rats, milk yield differed between groups from day 3 to day 14, and serum prolactin rose with puerarin and with domperidone.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstract.
Why this rating
Animal study of an isolated compound only; traditional use is not evidence of benefit.
Form and dose studied
Tuber extracts and isolated puerarin (in rats). The nursing mother's tea or powder is not the same thing.
Who was studied
None in people. Lactating rats only.
Limits
Rats, abstract only, no effect sizes. Isolated compound, not whole tuber.
Why researchers looked
Ayurvedic use as a milk-boosting tonic, often mixed with cow's milk.
Traditional use
Vidari is listed in the traditional literature as a galactagogue (milk-increasing herb).
Proposed mechanism Animal research
In rats, puerarin raised the milk-making hormone prolactin and appeared to raise blood flow in the breast. Computer docking suggested it binds dopamine and serotonin receptors.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Plant estrogen-like compounds may act on hormones; no human breastfeeding safety data. Ask a clinician before use while nursing.
Male vitality and fertility
Not enough evidenceAyurveda uses the tuber as an aphrodisiac and tonic for men. A rat study found more mating behaviour and higher testis weight with an extract. There are no human studies.
2 studiesEthanol extract in rats.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial found. In male rats, an ethanol extract (three amounts) increased sexual behaviour dose-dependently and raised testis weight; the highest dose changed hormone levels.
Results
Dose-dependent increase in sexual behaviour and testis weight in rats. Hormone values were not given in the abstract.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstract.
Why this rating
Single small rat study (6 rats per group). Reviews also list antifertility effects in animals, so the picture is mixed and unproven for people.
Form and dose studied
Ethanol extract in rats.
Who was studied
Male rats only.
Limits
Small, abstract only. The review literature mentions antifertility effects too.
Why researchers looked
Traditional use as a spermatogenic and aphrodisiac tonic.
Traditional use
A 2014 review lists spermatogenic, aphrodisiac and fertility uses as traditional claims.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
The rat study reported effects on FSH, LH and testosterone at the highest dose; the extract contained puerarin, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Hormone-active compounds; effects on men's hormones in people are unknown.
Menopause and bone loss
Not enough evidenceA rat study found a solvent fraction of the tuber improved bone in rats with their ovaries removed, a model of menopause. A related kudzu root extract from a different species showed some effects in a small open trial in women. Neither shows the tuber works in women.
2 studiesEthyl acetate fraction (a solvent fraction, not a food or traditional…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial of Pueraria tuberosa for menopause or bone was found. For context only: a 2021 open-label 4-week trial of a different species, kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root extract, in 50 postmenopausal women reported lower bone and cartilage breakdown markers and better menopause scores. It had no placebo and its authors work for the sponsor.
Results
Rats: bone strength and chemistry improved dose-dependently, similar to raloxifene's effect on bone structure. Different species in women: serum CTX-I -18.4% (95% CI -8.1 to -27.5) in the highest-frequency group.
Effect sizes as reported
See the study records; the kudzu trial is a different plant.
Why this rating
Rat and docking results for this plant; the human data are for a different species, open-label, with no placebo.
Form and dose studied
Ethyl acetate fraction (a solvent fraction, not a food or traditional preparation) in rats.
Who was studied
Ovary-removed rats; postmenopausal women (other species).
Limits
Not the same plant in women; open-label; industry-linked; rat fraction is not a traditional preparation.
Why researchers looked
The tuber contains isoflavones (daidzein, genistein, biochanin A, puerarin) that can act like weak estrogens; traditional use for menopausal syndrome is listed in a review.
Traditional use
Maji 2014 lists menopausal syndrome among traditional uses.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Computer docking predicted genistein and daidzein bind estrogen receptors alpha and beta. In rats the fraction restored bone structure and limited the loss of uterus weight, which also points to estrogen-like activity.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Estrogen-like compounds: caution with hormone-sensitive conditions. The fraction also slowed breast and ovarian cancer cell growth in dishes, which does not show it is safe or useful in people.
Blood sugar and diabetes (animal and lab)
Not enough evidenceWater extracts of the tuber changed gut hormones and blood sugar in rats. No human trial exists. Another plant sometimes called vidari, Ipomoea digitata, lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats too, so animal results can come from the wrong plant.
3 studiesWater extract (rats). The Ipomoea digitata extract was hydroalcoholic.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human blood sugar trial was found. Rat work with a water extract showed higher after-meal GLP-1 (about 5.8-fold) and GIP (about 8.7-fold) after meals, and lower intestinal DPP-IV in diabetic rats. Separate rat work on Ipomoea digitata tuber (a different plant) also lowered blood glucose.
Results
GLP-1 rose about 5.8-fold and GIP about 8.7-fold in extract-treated rats (controls 2.9 and 2.4-fold).
Effect sizes as reported
See study record.
Why this rating
Rats and computer docking only.
Form and dose studied
Water extract (rats). The Ipomoea digitata extract was hydroalcoholic.
Who was studied
Normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
Limits
Animal only; one lab group; docking is a prediction.
Why researchers looked
Antidiabetic activity is listed among reported activities in a review; a lab group at Banaras Hindu University studied incretin hormones.
Traditional use
Reviews list antidiabetic effects among reported activities.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
In rats the extract raised after-meal GLP-1 and GIP (gut hormones that help insulin release) and lowered the DPP-IV enzyme that breaks them down; docking picked puerarone and robinin as likely binders.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
If it does lower blood sugar in people it could add to diabetes medicines; no human data. Watch for low blood sugar.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (lab)
Not enough evidenceTuber extracts and compounds such as puerarin, mangiferin and isoorientin show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cells and animals. The reviews say how this works is not fully known.
3 studiesWater, solvent and ethyl acetate extracts in lab studies.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human study of inflammation or antioxidant status in the tuber was found, apart from the antioxidant status reading in the blood pressure trial.
Results
Lab effects reported; no useful numbers in the abstracts read.
Effect sizes as reported
Not applicable.
Why this rating
Reviews summarise lab work; the antioxidant-rich fraction study was in rats and cell lines.
Form and dose studied
Water, solvent and ethyl acetate extracts in lab studies.
Who was studied
Cells and animals.
Limits
Lab findings do not show benefit in people.
Why researchers looked
Used in Ayurveda as a restorative and anti-ageing tonic.
Traditional use
Maji 2014 lists anti-inflammatory and immune-booster uses as traditional claims partly supported by lab work.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Antioxidant assays and cell and animal models.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Traditional tonic (rasayana) use
Not enough evidenceIn Ayurveda vidari kanda is a nourishing, sweet tonic, often taken with milk. The tonic idea is traditional; no human trial tests it.
2 studiesPowder with milk or honey is the traditional form; not tested.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None.
Results
None.
Effect sizes as reported
Not applicable.
Why this rating
Traditional use only. Reviews call for studies to validate clinical use.
Form and dose studied
Powder with milk or honey is the traditional form; not tested.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No human data.
Why researchers looked
Called a rasayana: a rejuvenating or restorative medicine in Ayurveda.
Traditional use
Used for restoring strength, anti-ageing and as part of tonic formulas.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not established.
Worms in livestock (lab)
Not enough evidenceIn eastern India the tuber is used in cattle and poultry. A 2024 study found it acted against three livestock worm species in dishes and was not toxic to cells or mice at the tested amounts. This does not apply to people.
1 studiesTuber extracts.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None in people.
Results
Active against the tested worms in vitro; non-toxic in cells and mice.
Effect sizes as reported
Not applicable.
Why this rating
Animal and lab only.
Form and dose studied
Tuber extracts.
Who was studied
Livestock parasites, cells, mice.
Limits
Not human; short-term.
Why researchers looked
Ethnoveterinary use among communities in eastern India (185 informants).
Traditional use
Locals use the tuber to rejuvenate animals and treat worms.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Lab tests on parasites; computer docking.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Non-toxic in mice does not prove safety in people.
Connections to the rest of health
How Vidari kanda connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Blood pressure (stage 1 hypertension): One small trial of 30 adults with mildly high blood pressure reported a fall in blood pressure over 12 weeks with the tuber. It is the only human trial found, and it is too small and too poorly described to rely on. | 17 1 |
| Heart Health | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Blood pressure (stage 1 hypertension): One small trial of 30 adults with mildly high blood pressure reported a fall in blood pressure over 12 weeks with the tuber. It is the only human trial found, and it is too small and too poorly described to rely on. | 17 1 |
| Womens Wellness | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Breast milk supply (galactagogue): Vidari kanda is traditionally given to nursing mothers to raise milk. The only recent test is in rats, using the isolated compound puerarin. No human trial was found. | 7 1 |
| Mens Vitality | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Male vitality and fertility: Ayurveda uses the tuber as an aphrodisiac and tonic for men. A rat study found more mating behaviour and higher testis weight with an extract. There are no human studies. | 3 9 |
| Libido Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Male vitality and fertility: Ayurveda uses the tuber as an aphrodisiac and tonic for men. A rat study found more mating behaviour and higher testis weight with an extract. There are no human studies. | 3 9 |
| Fertility Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Male vitality and fertility: Ayurveda uses the tuber as an aphrodisiac and tonic for men. A rat study found more mating behaviour and higher testis weight with an extract. There are no human studies. | 3 9 |
| Menopause Support | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Menopause and bone loss: A rat study found a solvent fraction of the tuber improved bone in rats with their ovaries removed, a model of menopause. A related kudzu root extract from a different species showed some effects in a small open trial in women. Neither shows the tuber works in women. | 15 2 |
| Womens Wellness | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Menopause and bone loss: A rat study found a solvent fraction of the tuber improved bone in rats with their ovaries removed, a model of menopause. A related kudzu root extract from a different species showed some effects in a small open trial in women. Neither shows the tuber works in women. | 15 2 |
| Hormone Balance | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Menopause and bone loss: A rat study found a solvent fraction of the tuber improved bone in rats with their ovaries removed, a model of menopause. A related kudzu root extract from a different species showed some effects in a small open trial in women. Neither shows the tuber works in women. | 15 2 |
| Blood Sugar Balance | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Blood sugar and diabetes (animal and lab): Water extracts of the tuber changed gut hormones and blood sugar in rats. No human trial exists. Another plant sometimes called vidari, Ipomoea digitata, lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats too, so animal results can come from the wrong plant. | 16 1 11 |
| Metabolic Health | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Blood sugar and diabetes (animal and lab): Water extracts of the tuber changed gut hormones and blood sugar in rats. No human trial exists. Another plant sometimes called vidari, Ipomoea digitata, lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats too, so animal results can come from the wrong plant. | 16 1 11 |
| Inflammation Balance | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (lab): Tuber extracts and compounds such as puerarin, mangiferin and isoorientin show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cells and animals. The reviews say how this works is not fully known. | 1 9 15 |
| Healthy Aging | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (lab): Tuber extracts and compounds such as puerarin, mangiferin and isoorientin show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cells and animals. The reviews say how this works is not fully known. | 1 9 15 |
| Healthy Aging | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Traditional tonic (rasayana) use: In Ayurveda vidari kanda is a nourishing, sweet tonic, often taken with milk. The tonic idea is traditional; no human trial tests it. | 9 15 |
| Energy Boost | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Traditional tonic (rasayana) use: In Ayurveda vidari kanda is a nourishing, sweet tonic, often taken with milk. The tonic idea is traditional; no human trial tests it. | 9 15 |
| Digestive Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Worms in livestock (lab): In eastern India the tuber is used in cattle and poultry. A 2024 study found it acted against three livestock worm species in dishes and was not toxic to cells or mice at the tested amounts. This does not apply to people. | 10 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver | Adverse effect or risk | Mixed findings | Damage seen in rats; no human data. Preparation or compound: Methanol extract of tuber |
14 |
| Hormones | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Estrogen receptor activity in rats and docking. Preparation or compound: Puerarin, daidzein, genistein |
13 15 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Blood pressure (stage 1 hypertension) | 17 1 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Breast milk supply (galactagogue) Studied for: Male vitality and fertility | 7 1 3 9 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Male vitality and fertility Studied for: Menopause and bone loss | 3 9 15 2 16 1 11 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Menopause and bone loss | 15 2 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Blood sugar and diabetes (animal and lab) Studied for: Worms in livestock (lab) | 16 1 11 10 |
| Immune System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (lab) | 1 9 15 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systolic blood pressure | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 17 |
| Diastolic blood pressure | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 17 |
| Plasma fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 17 |
| Serum prolactin (rats) | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 7 |
| FSH, LH and testosterone (rats) | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 3 |
| Bone breakdown marker CTX-I (different species) | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 2 |
| DPP-IV enzyme activity (rats) | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 16 |
| GLP-1 and GIP after meals (rats) | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 16 |
| Blood glucose (different plant, Ipomoea digitata) | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 11 |
K. Biological pathways
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerarin | Biological association | Animal | Raised prolactin and breast blood flow in lactating rats; stopped implantation in rats at high amounts; docking to dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Preparation or compound: Tuber |
12 7 13 |
| Daidzein | Biological association | In silico | Predicted by docking to bind estrogen receptors alpha and beta. Preparation or compound: Tuber |
12 15 |
| Genistein | Biological association | In silico | Predicted by docking to bind estrogen receptors alpha and beta. Preparation or compound: Tuber |
12 15 |
| Mangiferin | Biological association | Review | Listed as a constituent in the review. Preparation or compound: Tuber |
12 1 |
| Biochanin A / formononetin | Biological association | In vitro | Found by LC-MS in an ethanol extract with puerarin and daidzein. Preparation or compound: Tuber |
3 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 9 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Vidari kanda. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read our existing herb summary, searched PubMed, read the abstract of each PubMed record cited, and checked names in GBIF and compounds in PubChem. Regulator pages that could not be opened are marked not found or not verified.
Study library: every study we checked 17
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bharti 2021 Pueraria tuberosa: A Review on Traditional Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry Front Pharmacol · PMID 33708108 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Narrative review of traditional use, pharmacology and chemistry of Pueraria tuberosa (Indian kudzu, vidari kand) | Pueraria tuberosa tuber and leaf extracts and purified compounds tuber + leaf not restated here not restated here · vs none |
Lists many activities in extracts and compounds (anticancer, antidiabetic, antifertility, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and others). Says some compounds are unexplored and that exact mechanisms are unknown. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, listed pharmacological activities, compounds (puerarin, daidzein, genistein, quercetin, irisolidone, biochanin A and B, isoorientin, mangiferin) Limitations: Narrative review; mostly lab and animal work; no systematic search or certainty rating in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no commercial or financial conflicts. Read: abstract |
| Bihlet 2021 The Efficacy and Safety of Multiple Dose Regimens of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) Root Extract on Bone and Cartilage Turnover and Menopausal Symptoms Front Pharmacol · PMID 34744740 · DOI |
Rct open label |
50 50 postmenopausal women with at least mild menopausal symptoms |
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root extract: a different species from Pueraria tuberosa root five regimens (not restated here) 4 weeks · vs None (dose-regimen groups) |
Blood and urine CTX-I (bone breakdown) fell 18.4% and 34.2% in the group on the highest regimen; urine CTX-II fell 17.4%; Menopause Rating Scale scores improved in four of five groups; no serious adverse events were reported. CTX-I -18.4% (serum), -34.2% (urine); CTX-II -17.4% (urine) (Serum CTX-I -18.4% (95% CI -8.1 to -27.5); urine CTX-I -34.2% (-21.6 to -44.7); urine CTX-II -17.4% (-2.5 to -30.0)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Bone and cartilage breakdown markers, Menopause Rating Scale, safety Limitations: Different species; open-label; no placebo; 4 weeks; exploratory; authors are employees of the sponsoring company (NBCD A/S). Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: several authors are employees of NBCD A/S. Read: abstract |
| Chauhan 2013 Pueraria tuberosa DC extract improves androgenesis and sexual behavior via FSH LH cascade ScientificWorldJournal · PMID 24489512 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
24 Male albino rats, 6 per group |
Ethanolic extract of Pueraria tuberosa (50, 100, 150 mg/kg) tuber not restated here not stated in abstract · vs 2% acacia solution |
Dose-dependent increase in sexual behaviour and testis weight; at the highest dose hormone levels were affected. LC-MS found puerarin, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Sexual behaviour, testis and secondary sex organ weight, sperm count, FSH, LH, testosterone Limitations: Small rat study; abstract gives no numbers; plant-extract effect on rat hormones may not apply to men. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
| Devaiah 2011 Development of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Based SCAR Marker for Identification of Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq (Convolvulaceae) Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 21738554 · DOI |
Lab method in-vitro |
Raw drug identification (DNA markers) | Vidari candidate tubers tuber not restated here not restated here · vs none |
Tubers of Ipomoea mauritiana, Pueraria tuberosa, Adenia hondala (Passifloraceae) and the pith of Cycas circinalis (Cycadaceae) are all traded as Vidari, which creates problems of botanical authenticity. A DNA marker was developed that separates Ipomoea mauritiana from the others. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether tubers sold as Vidari can be told apart by DNA Limitations: Lab method paper; does not measure how often substitution occurs in shops; the marker does not identify Pueraria tuberosa itself. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
| EMA; NCCIH; 2026 EMA/HMPC, NCCIH, LiverTox and LactMed checks for vidari kanda / Pueraria tuberosa EMA; NCCIH; NLM |
Not found |
unspecified not restated here not restated here · vs none |
On 2026-10-25 a guessed NCCIH kudzu page address returned page-not-found; a Bookshelf search for kudzu returned only annotated bibliography entries and no monograph for Pueraria tuberosa. No EMA herbal monograph was checked or found. LactMed was not found. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Not found is not the same as none exists. No entry pages were opened. Marked not verified. Read: not-found | |
| GBIF 2026 GBIF species match API: Pueraria tuberosa, Pueraria montana, Ipomoea digitata, Ipomoea mauritiana GBIF · Source |
Database record |
unspecified not restated here not restated here · vs none |
Read 2026-10-25. Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. is ACCEPTED, key 2977609, family Fabaceae. Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. ACCEPTED, key 2977636. Ipomoea digitata L. ACCEPTED, key 8249252, and Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. ACCEPTED, key 4927144, both Convolvulaceae. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Name match only; synonyms and range were not read. Read: api | |
| Giri 2024 In vivo analysis of puerarin from Pueraria tuberosa as a promising galactagogue Bioinformation · PMID 40162455 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Lactating female rats | Pueraria tuberosa extracts and puerarin (15 mg/kg/day) vs domperidone tuber not restated here days 3 to 15 after birth · vs Vehicle; domperidone |
Milk yield differed between groups from day 3 to 14. Puerarin and domperidone raised serum prolactin. Imaging suggested more breast blood flow with puerarin. Docking suggested puerarin binds dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Milk yield, serum prolactin, breast imaging, acute toxicity, computer docking Limitations: Rats only; the abstract names puerarin as the active arm, so results are for the isolated compound, not the whole tuber; abstract does not give effect sizes. Funding and conflicts: Abstract states no conflicts. Read: abstract |
| Mahajan 2015 Improvement of sperm density in neem-oil induced infertile male albino rats by Ipomoea digitata Linn. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol · PMID 26401398 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Male rats made infertile with neem oil | Ipomoea digitata root powder (a different plant from Pueraria tuberosa) root 250 and 500 mg/kg (as reported) 40 days · vs Neem-oil control |
Sperm density and motility rose (p<0.01) at both doses. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Sperm density and motility, organ weights, hormones Limitations: Different species (Ipomoea digitata); rats only. Funding and conflicts: Conflict of interest: none declared. Read: abstract |
| Maji 2014 Pueraria tuberosa: a review on its phytochemical and therapeutic potential Nat Prod Res · PMID 24980468 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Narrative review of vidarikanda tuber: traditional use, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology | Pueraria tuberosa tuber (vidarikanda) tuber not restated here not restated here · vs none |
Says traditional claims (spermatogenic, immune booster, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, brain tonic) have some support from in vivo and in vitro studies, but that further studies are needed to define active compounds and validate clinical use in people. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional use, isoflavonoids (puerarin, genistein, daidzein, tuberosin), pharmacology and toxicology Limitations: Narrative review; abstract only was read; no human evidence summarised in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
| Mandal 2024 An ethnopharmacological approach to evaluate antiparasitic and health-promoting abilities of Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. in livestock PLoS One · PMID 39028725 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
185 185 informants interviewed in eastern India; worm parasites of livestock in vitro; Vero cells; BALB/c mice |
Pueraria tuberosa tuber extracts tuber not restated here not restated here · vs none |
The tuber extract killed or affected three livestock worm species in vitro. Toxicity tests in cells and mice found the extract non-toxic even at higher experimental doses. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Use value among informants, anthelmintic effect on livestock worms in vitro, toxicity in cells and mice, computer docking Limitations: Interview, lab and mouse data; not human; short-term; non-toxic in mice does not establish safety for people. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Pandey 2013 Preclinical evaluation of hypoglycemic activity of Ipomoea digitata tuber in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol · PMID 23183744 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Diabetic rats | Hydroalcoholic extract of Ipomoea digitata tuber (a different plant from Pueraria tuberosa) tuber 100 and 200 mg/kg (as reported) 28 days · vs Glibenclamide |
Both doses lowered blood glucose in acute and 28-day tests, but less than glibenclamide in the acute test; body weight loss was prevented. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood glucose, body weight Limitations: Different species (Ipomoea digitata, Convolvulaceae) from the plant this page covers; rats only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
| PubChem 2026 PubChem compound records: puerarin, daidzein, genistein, mangiferin PubChem · Source |
Database record |
unspecified not restated here not restated here · vs none |
Read 2026-10-25. Puerarin CID 5281807 (C21H20O9); daidzein CID 5281708 (C15H10O4); genistein CID 5280961 (C15H10O5); mangiferin CID 5281647 (C19H18O11). Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Identity only. Read: api | |
| Saha 2012 Puerarin, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, disrupts pregnancy in rats at pre-implantation stage Reproduction · PMID 22919047 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Female rats after mating | Puerarin isolated from the butanol fraction of the tuber extract tuber (isolated compound) 300 mg/kg per day or more (as reported) Days 1 to 2 after mating · vs Control |
The tuber is traditionally used as an emmenagogue (a herb to bring on periods). Puerarin at 300 mg/kg per day or more on days 1 to 2 after mating caused complete implantation failure in rats, by changing estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor activity in the womb lining, not by changing blood hormone levels. Day 5 embryos were visibly distorted. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Embryo implantation, estradiol and progesterone, estrogen and progesterone receptor activity in the womb lining Limitations: Rat study of an isolated compound at high doses; applicability to women unknown. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
| Santosh 2010 Hepatotoxicity of tubers of Indian Kudzu (Pueraria tuberosa) in rats Food Chem Toxicol · PMID 20122980 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Rats | Methanolic extract of Pueraria tuberosa tubers tuber single and repeated doses (not restated here) 30 days (sub-chronic) · vs Control |
Acute LD50 was 227.5 mg per 100 g body weight. Repeated dosing for 30 days raised liver enzymes in the blood and caused congestion, inflammation and cell death in liver tissue, in a dose-dependent way, with higher nitric oxide and oxidative stress. The authors conclude higher dosing, or continuous use for longer (even in low doses), is hepatotoxic. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Acute lethal dose, blood liver enzymes, liver tissue, nitric oxide and oxidative stress markers Limitations: Rat study of a methanol extract (not a traditional preparation); no human liver data; the authors' warning about low doses is their conclusion from rats. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
| Satpathy 2021 A fraction of Pueraria tuberosa extract, rich in antioxidant compounds, alleviates ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis in rats and inhibits growth of breast and ovarian cancer cells PLoS One · PMID 33444328 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Rats with ovaries removed (menopause-style bone loss model); human breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) and ovarian (SKOV-3) cancer cell lines | Ethyl acetate fraction of tuber extract (antioxidant-rich fraction) vs raloxifene tuber not restated here not stated in abstract · vs Raloxifene |
The fraction improved bone measures dose-dependently, controlled body weight, and reduced the fall in uterus weight after ovary removal. It was toxic to the cancer cell lines. Genistein and daidzein showed high predicted binding to estrogen receptors alpha and beta in computer docking. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Bone strength and chemistry, body and uterus weight, bone structure, cancer-cell toxicity, computer docking to estrogen receptors Limitations: Rat and cell work; a solvent fraction, not a food or traditional preparation; docking is a prediction. Uterus-weight effect is consistent with some estrogen-like action. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Srivastava 2017 Active phytochemicals of Pueraria tuberosa for DPP-IV inhibition: in silico and experimental approach J Diabetes Metab Disord · PMID 29201861 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Normal rats (35 days) and streptozotocin-diabetic rats (10 days); intestinal tissue | Pueraria tuberosa water extract tuber not restated here 35 days (normal rats), 10 days (diabetic rats) · vs Untreated control rats |
After meals GLP-1 rose about 5.8-fold and GIP about 8.7-fold in extract-treated normal rats (2.9 and 2.4 in controls); DPP-IV activity fell more with the extract; diabetic rats had lower intestinal DPP-IV and higher basal insulin. Docking picked puerarone and robinin as likely DPP-IV binders. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: After-meal GLP-1 and GIP, DPP-IV enzyme activity, glucose tolerance, insulin, computer docking Limitations: Rats and docking only; water extract; no human trial. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Verma 2012 Effect of Pueraria tuberosa DC. (Indian Kudzu) on blood pressure, fibrinolysis and oxidative stress in patients with stage 1 hypertension Pak J Biol Sci · PMID 24171260 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
30 30 adults with stage 1 (primary) high blood pressure; 15 per group |
Pueraria tuberosa tuber (preparation not described in the abstract) tuber 3 g per day in two divided doses (as reported) 12 weeks · vs Matched placebo |
Reported falls of 25 mmHg (systolic, p<0.001), 11 mmHg (diastolic, p<0.05) and 16 mmHg (mean, p<0.001) at the end of the study; plasma fibrinogen fell (p<0.01); plasma fibrinolytic activity rose (p<0.001); total antioxidant status rose (p<0.05). The authors say it was tolerated well without untoward side effects. Systolic -25, diastolic -11, mean -16 mmHg as reported (comparison basis not stated in abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood pressure, plasma fibrinogen, plasma fibrinolytic activity, serum total antioxidant status Limitations: Very small trial (15 per group); single-blinded; the abstract does not say whether the changes are against baseline or against placebo; no registration; single centre; preparation not described; small safety sample. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract. Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- Only one small human trial of the tuber (blood pressure).
- No human data for milk supply, male vitality, menopause or blood sugar.
- No human liver, pregnancy or breastfeeding safety data.
- Which plant a study used can be unclear because several plants are sold as vidari.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 9
Systolic blood pressure
Lowered in trials
The upper blood pressure number.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
The main marker of high blood pressure.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Statistically significant as reported, but the trial is tiny and the comparison is unclear.
Safety implication
Possible additive effect with blood pressure drugs.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Fall of 25 mmHg (p<0.001) at 12 weeks as reported; comparison basis not stated in abstract | 30 adults, stage 1 hypertension | Powdered tuber vs placebo |
Diastolic blood pressure
Lowered in trials
The lower blood pressure number.
Very low certaintyPlasma fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity
Mixed results in trials
Fibrinogen is a protein that helps blood clot; fibrinolytic activity is how well the body breaks clots down.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Linked to clotting tendency and heart risk.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A lab marker, not proof of fewer heart attacks or clots.
Safety implication
Theory only: a change in clotting markers could matter for people taking blood thinners; ask a clinician.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Fibrinogen fell (p<0.01) and fibrinolytic activity rose (p<0.001); numbers not given in the abstract | 30 adults, stage 1 hypertension | Powdered tuber vs placebo |
Serum prolactin (rats)
Raised in trials
A hormone that drives milk production.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Marker for milk-boosting claims.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Animal marker only.
Safety implication
Prolactin and hormone effects in nursing mothers are unstudied.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Puerarin and domperidone significantly raised serum prolactin in lactating rats; values not in abstract | Lactating rats | Puerarin 15 mg/kg/day |
FSH, LH and testosterone (rats)
Mixed results in trials
Hormones that control sperm production and male drive.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Used to explain traditional male-tonic claims.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Animal marker only; the abstract states the conclusion without numbers.
Safety implication
Hormone effects in men are unknown.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hormone levels were affected at the highest dose; direction and values not given in the abstract | Male rats | Ethanol extract |
Bone breakdown marker CTX-I (different species)
Lowered in trials
A blood or urine marker of how fast bone is being broken down.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A common marker in menopause studies.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Different plant; a marker change does not mean fewer fractures.
Safety implication
Estrogen-like compounds: ask about hormone-sensitive conditions.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Serum CTX-I -18.4% (95% CI -8.1 to -27.5), urine CTX-I -34.2% (95% CI -21.6 to -44.7) in the highest-frequency group | 50 postmenopausal women | Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root extract, not Pueraria tuberosa |
DPP-IV enzyme activity (rats)
Lowered in trials
An enzyme that breaks down gut hormones that help insulin release.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
GLP-1 and GIP after meals (rats)
Raised in trials
Gut hormones released after eating that help the body handle sugar.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Blood glucose (different plant, Ipomoea digitata)
Lowered in trials
Sugar level in the blood.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Included only to flag a name mix-up.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Different plant, animals.
Safety implication
Not applicable.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Lowered blood glucose in diabetic rats, less than glibenclamide in the acute test | Diabetic rats | Ipomoea digitata tuber extract (not Pueraria tuberosa) |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 5
- Make sure it is the right plant: several plants are sold as vidari. The Ayurvedic name vidari is used in trade for the tubers of Pueraria tuberosa, Ipomoea mauritiana, Adenia hondala and the pith of a cycad, Cycas circinalis. A separate plant, Ipomoea digitata, also has animal studies under related names. Their chemistry and safety are not the same. Check the Latin name on the label. Authoritative guidance 4 6
- Plant estrogen-like compounds: hormone-sensitive conditions. The tuber contains isoflavones (puerarin, daidzein, genistein, biochanin A). In rats, puerarin changed estrogen and progesterone receptor activity in the womb lining, and a tuber fraction restored uterus weight lost after ovary removal. No human hormone study of this plant was found. If you have, or have had, a hormone-sensitive cancer or other hormone-sensitive condition, ask your specialist before using it. Animal research 13 15 1
- Liver: damage seen in rats. A methanol extract of the tuber raised liver enzymes and damaged liver tissue in rats over 30 days, in a dose-dependent way. The authors say higher dosing, or continuous use for longer even at low doses, may harm the liver. No human liver case reports were found. The 12-week human trial reported no untoward effects, but it was tiny. Animal research 14 17
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid medicinal amounts without advice. In rats, puerarin at high amounts stopped embryos from implanting. The tuber is traditionally an emmenagogue (it brings on periods). It is also traditionally given to nursing mothers, but no human breastfeeding or pregnancy safety data were found. Animal research 13 7
- Medicines: blood pressure, blood sugar and blood thinners. Theory only for people, but worth a pharmacist's check: the tuber lowered blood pressure in one small trial; extracts changed gut hormones and sugar handling in rats; and the same trial reported lower fibrinogen and higher clot breakdown activity. Pharmacological theory 17 16
Side effects 2
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| No side effects were reported in the one 12-week human trial (15 people on the tuber). A group of 15 cannot detect uncommon harm. | Not established | not stated Not stated | Controlled trial 17 |
| Raised liver enzymes and liver tissue damage in rats at repeated doses of a methanol extract. Rat study of a non-traditional extract. | Not established | not stated Not stated | Animal research 14 |
Liver
No human liver injury case reports were found. A rat study of a methanol extract found dose-dependent liver damage over 30 days with oxidative stress, and its authors advise caution with long-term use. A 2024 study of tuber extract found no toxicity in cells and mice. 14 10
How often. Unknown. Cannot be estimated from the abstracts.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice found. People with liver disease or on liver-stressing medicines should ask a clinician first.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Vidari kanda supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 4
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure medicines drug | Blood pressure fell during 12 weeks of tuber in one small trial. | Possible extra drop, dizziness or fainting. Based on one tiny trial. | Controlled trial Very low certainty 17 | Tell your prescriber; do not use it in place of treatment. |
| Diabetes medicines and insulin drug | In rats the extract raised after-meal GLP-1 and GIP and lowered DPP-IV activity; DPP-IV blockers are an existing drug class. | Possible extra sugar lowering and low blood sugar. No human data. | Animal research Very low certainty 16 | Ask your prescriber and watch for low blood sugar. |
| Blood thinners (warfarin, apixaban, aspirin and similar) drug | The human trial reported lower fibrinogen and higher fibrinolytic activity. | Theoretical effect on clotting or bleeding. Not studied with blood thinners. | Pharmacological theory Very low certainty 17 | Ask your prescriber, especially before surgery. |
| Hormone medicines (hormone therapy, birth control, tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) drug | Isoflavones in the tuber and puerarin can act on estrogen receptors in lab and rat studies. | Could add to or work against hormone treatments. No human data. | Animal research Very low certainty 13 15 | Ask the specialist who manages your hormone treatment. |
Who should check first 6
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy and trying to conceive | Avoid medicinal amounts unless a clinician who knows you agrees. | Animal research 13 |
| Breastfeeding | Traditional galactagogue, but no human safety data. Ask a clinician or lactation consultant. | Traditional use 7 |
| Hormone-sensitive cancer or conditions | Ask your specialist first. | Animal research 15 |
| Liver disease | Ask a clinician first; liver damage is seen in rats. | Animal research 14 |
| Children | No safety data found. | Traditional use 1 |
| Before surgery, or with a bleeding disorder | Tell the surgeon. Clotting effects are theoretical. | Pharmacological theory 17 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Little formal toxicology exists. Rats: a methanol extract had an acute LD50 of 227.5 mg per 100 g body weight and caused liver damage with repeated use. Mice and cells: a 2024 extract was non-toxic at the tested amounts.
Animal. Rats: liver damage with repeated methanol extract (2010). Mice: no toxicity of tuber extract at higher experimental doses (2024).
Human doses studied. One 12-week trial in 15 people; no untoward effects reported. Amounts are not restated here.
High dose or long term signals. The rat authors warn that long continuous use, even at low amounts, may be hepatotoxic.
Overdose response. Not found.
Genotoxicity. Not found in the sources read.
Toxic plant parts. No toxic parts identified in the sources read. Tuber and leaf are the parts studied.
Species mix-ups are the main quality problem. Four different plants are traded as vidari.
Species substitution. Tubers of Ipomoea mauritiana, Pueraria tuberosa, Adenia hondala and the pith of Cycas circinalis are all traded as Vidari. DNA markers exist to tell Ipomoea mauritiana apart. How often substitution happens in shops was not measured in the abstract. 4
Ipomoea digitata name confusion. Ipomoea digitata is a separate accepted species (Convolvulaceae) with its own animal studies (blood sugar and sperm density). Whether it is sold as vidari was not verified in the sources read. 6 11 8
Heavy metals, pesticides, other contaminants. Not checked.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|
When to get medical help
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe upper right belly pain (liver).
- Fainting or severe dizziness (low blood pressure or sugar).
- Unusual bruising, bleeding or black stools.
- Unexpected vaginal bleeding, breast lumps or new breast pain in someone with a hormone-sensitive condition.
Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is vidari kanda?
Is it the same as kudzu?
Does it lower blood pressure?
One small trial of 30 adults reported lower blood pressure over 12 weeks. It is too small and unclear to rely on, and it has not been repeated. Do not replace prescribed treatment.
Does it help breastfeeding mothers make more milk?
It is traditional, but no human study exists. A rat study used the isolated compound puerarin. Ask a lactation consultant or doctor.
Does it affect hormones?
Is it safe in pregnancy?
Avoid medicinal amounts. At high amounts a compound from the tuber stopped embryos implanting in rats. There are no human safety data.
Is it safe for the liver?
Can I take it with diabetes or blood pressure pills?
What about blood thinners or surgery?
The human trial reported changes in clotting markers, so an effect on bleeding is possible in theory. Tell your prescriber and surgeon.
How do I know I am getting the right plant?
What about Ipomoea digitata?
How much should I take, and is there a best form?
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- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
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- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read our existing herb summary, searched PubMed, read the abstract of each PubMed record cited, and checked names in GBIF and compounds in PubChem. Regulator pages that could not be opened are marked not found or not verified.
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- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
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Sources 17
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Bharti R, Chopra BS, Raut S, et al.. Pueraria tuberosa: A Review on Traditional Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry. Front Pharmacol. 2021. PMID 33708108. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2020.582506. (abstract)
- Bihlet AR, Byrjalsen I, Andersen JR, et al.. The Efficacy and Safety of Multiple Dose Regimens of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) Root Extract on Bone and Cartilage Turnover and Menopausal Symptoms. Front Pharmacol. 2021. PMID 34744740. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2021.760629. (abstract)
- Chauhan NS, Sharma V, Thakur M, et al.. Pueraria tuberosa DC extract improves androgenesis and sexual behavior via FSH LH cascade. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013. PMID 24489512. DOI 10.1155/2013/780659. (abstract)
- Devaiah K, Balasubramani SP, Venkatasubramanian P. Development of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Based SCAR Marker for Identification of Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq (Convolvulaceae). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011. PMID 21738554. DOI 10.1093/ecam/neq023. (abstract)
- EMA; NCCIH; NLM. EMA/HMPC, NCCIH, LiverTox and LactMed checks for vidari kanda / Pueraria tuberosa. EMA; NCCIH; NLM. 2026. (not-found)
- GBIF. GBIF species match API: Pueraria tuberosa, Pueraria montana, Ipomoea digitata, Ipomoea mauritiana. GBIF. 2026. (api)
- Giri KR, Palandurkar KM, Prakash V, et al.. In vivo analysis of puerarin from Pueraria tuberosa as a promising galactagogue. Bioinformation. 2024. PMID 40162455. DOI 10.6026/9732063002001574. (abstract)
- Mahajan GK, Mahajan RT, Mahajan AY. Improvement of sperm density in neem-oil induced infertile male albino rats by Ipomoea digitata Linn.. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2015. PMID 26401398. DOI 10.5455/jice.20150103033056. (abstract)
- Maji AK, Pandit S, Banerji P, et al.. Pueraria tuberosa: a review on its phytochemical and therapeutic potential. Nat Prod Res. 2014. PMID 24980468. DOI 10.1080/14786419.2014.928291. (abstract)
- Mandal SK, Mukherjee N, Ray AS, et al.. An ethnopharmacological approach to evaluate antiparasitic and health-promoting abilities of Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. in livestock. PLoS One. 2024. PMID 39028725. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0305667. (abstract)
- Pandey AK, Gupta PP, Lal VK. Preclinical evaluation of hypoglycemic activity of Ipomoea digitata tuber in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2013. PMID 23183744. DOI 10.1515/jbcpp-2012-0042. (abstract)
- PubChem. PubChem compound records: puerarin, daidzein, genistein, mangiferin. PubChem. 2026. (api)
- Saha P, Saraswat G, Chakraborty P, et al.. Puerarin, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, disrupts pregnancy in rats at pre-implantation stage. Reproduction. 2012. PMID 22919047. DOI 10.1530/REP-11-0423. (abstract)
- Santosh N, Mohan K, Royana S, et al.. Hepatotoxicity of tubers of Indian Kudzu (Pueraria tuberosa) in rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2010. PMID 20122980. DOI 10.1016/j.fct.2010.01.026. (abstract)
- Satpathy S, Patra A, Hussain MD, et al.. A fraction of Pueraria tuberosa extract, rich in antioxidant compounds, alleviates ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis in rats and inhibits growth of breast and ovarian cancer cells. PLoS One. 2021. PMID 33444328. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0240068. (abstract)
- Srivastava S, Shree P, Tripathi YB. Active phytochemicals of Pueraria tuberosa for DPP-IV inhibition: in silico and experimental approach. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2017. PMID 29201861. DOI 10.1186/s40200-017-0328-0. (abstract)
- Verma SK, Jain V, Singh DP. Effect of Pueraria tuberosa DC. (Indian Kudzu) on blood pressure, fibrinolysis and oxidative stress in patients with stage 1 hypertension. Pak J Biol Sci. 2012. PMID 24171260. DOI 10.3923/pjbs.2012.742.747. (abstract)