Dynamics of phytoestrogen, isoflavonoids, and its isolation from stems of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi growing in Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Song-Chol Mun ^a,*, Gwan-Sim Mun ^b

^a Department of Pharmacy, Pyongyang Medical College, Kim Il Sung University, Pyongyang,
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
^b Department of Medical Plant Resources, Institute of Pharmaceutics, Academy of Medicine Sciences, Pyongyang,
Democratic People's Republic of Korea

 

Four isoflavonoids were isolated from stems of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi growing in Democratic People's Republic of Korea and identified as daidzein (1), genistin (2), daidzin (3), and puerarin (4), structures, which were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis. Isoflavonoids were isolated using silica gel chromatography and purified with organic solvents. Isoflavonoid contents in P. lobata were determined using reliable highperformance
liquid chromatography. The results indicated that the contents of puerarin and genistin in the roots are higher than those in the stems (6.19% and 0.04% vs. 1.15% and 0.02%), whereas the stems have higher contents of daidzin and daidzein than the roots (3.17% and 0.06% vs. 1.72% and 0.05%). Accordingly, the root part of the plant is useful for
the isolation of puerarin and the stem part for daidzin. This study suggests that the stem of P. lobata is useful as an alternative source of puerarin, daidzin, genistin, and daidzein. In addition, collection of the stem will not sacrifice the plant and thus is beneficial to the natural ecosystems.

 

Keywords: daidzin, determination, isoflavonoid, Pueraria lobata, puerarin