Kudzu
Kudzu is a climbing plant of the pea family native to East Asia. Its root is used in traditional Chinese medicine and contains isoflavones such as puerarin.
Also listed as Gegen, Pueraria Lobata, Indian Kudzu, Kudzu Glycerite Liquid Extract
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
Which kudzu are we talking about?
Kudzu, Pueraria lobata, is an Asian legume whose roots supply edible starch. Supplements may contain root powder or extracts, which are not interchangeable with the starch used in food. 1
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Does the alcohol trial prove an addiction treatment?
No. It studied 17 men who were not seeking treatment, over four weeks; the authors called for studies in people seeking help. 2
Is kudzu starch the same as an extract capsule?
No. The root supplies culinary starch, whereas capsules may contain root powder or concentrated extracts. 1
Does “liver protection” mean alcohol becomes safe?
The cited study measured experimental liver injury in rats. It did not test whether drinking alcohol becomes safer for people. 3
Sources
- Kudzu: die asiatische Hülsenfrucht Verbraucherzentrale
- Puerarin ameliorates experimental alcoholic liver injury by inhibition of endotoxin gut leakage, Kupffer cell activation, and endotoxin receptors expression Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2013