Effect of Pueraria mirifica on vaginal health.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Pueraria mirifica on vaginal symptoms, vaginal health index, vaginal pH, and vaginal cytology in healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Healthy postmenopausal women, age 45 to 60 years old, were enrolled voluntarily and randomly received 20, 30, or 50 mg of Pueraria mirifica in capsules or placebo in identical capsules once daily for 24 weeks.


RESULTS
After 24 weeks of treatment, 71 women were evaluated. Fifty-one of 71 randomly received one of the three doses of Pueraria mirifica, and the remaining 20 received placebo. The mean vaginal dryness symptom in the Pueraria mirifica group decreased after 12 weeks of treatment. Pueraria mirifica increased vaginal maturation index (parabasal:intermediate:superficial cells) from 46:43:11 to 11:65:24 after 24 weeks of treatment. There was no significant difference of adverse effects between the Pueraria mirifica and placebo groups in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Pueraria mirifica was proven to exhibit estrogenicity on vaginal tissue, to alleviate vaginal dryness symptoms and dyspareunia, to improve signs of vaginal atrophy, and to restore the atrophic vaginal epithelium in healthy postmenopausal women.
Manonai
Jittima
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. rajmo@mahidol.ac.th
Chittacharoen
Apichart
A
Theppisai
Urusa
U
Theppisai
Hathai
H
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D029908:Pueraria; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects; D016387:Women's Health
D010936:Plant Extracts