chapter 1 Pueraria: botanical characteristics / chapter 2 Ethnobotany of Pueraria species / chapter 3 Pueraria (Ge) in traditional Chinese herbal medicine / chapter 4 Pueraria tuberosa DC: contraceptive efficacy and toxicological profile / chapter 5 Chemical constituents of Pueraria plants: identification and methods of analysis / chapter 6 Chemical components and pharmacology of the rejuvenating plant Pueraria mirifica / chapter ISOFLAVONOIDS IN THE TUBEROUS ROOTS OF P. MIRIFICA -- chapter MIROESTROL, DEOXYMIROESTROL, AND RELATED COMPOUNDS -- chapter CONCLUSIONS -- chapter ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- chapter REFERENCES -- chapter 7 Biosynthesis and natural functions of Pueraria isoflavonoids / chapter 8 Pharmacological effects of Pueraria isoflavones on cardiovascular system / chapter 9 Preclinical studies of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) as a treatment for alcohol abuse -- chapter 10 Human studies of kudzu as a treatment for alcohol abuse / chapter CLINICAL SAFETY TRIAL OF KUDZU AND ALCOHOL INTERACTIONS -- chapter REFERENCES -- chapter 11 Chemopreventive effects of isoflavones on estrogen-dependent diseases: osteoporosis and cancer of the breast, prostate and endometrium / chapter 12 Chemistry and hepatoprotective effect of Pueraria saponins / chapter SAPONINS IN ROOTS -- chapter SAPONINS IN FLOWERS -- chapter ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- chapter 13 Mammalian metabolism of Pueraria isoflavonoids / chapter 14 Synthesis of naturally occurring isoflavones and their analogs / chapter SYNTHETIC ROUTES TO ISOFLAVONE CORE STRUCTURES -- chapter CONCLUSIONS -- chapter REFERENCES -- chapter 15 Research and development of Pueraria (Ge)-based medicinal products in China / chapter 16 Kudzu (Pueraria lobata), a valuable potential commercial resource: food, paper, textiles and chemicals -- chapter 17 Friend or foe? Changing cultural definitions of kudzu