Thai herb could fight bone disease: report

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

BANGKOK (AFP) — Studies by a Thai scientist have found that a native herb used here for breast enhancement could help prevent the bone disease osteoporosis, local media reported Sunday.

Tests on laboratory mice over three months found that pueraria mirifica, known as kwao krua in Thailand, helped prevent bone thinning in females, the Bangkok Post newspaper said.

Nontakorn Urasopon of Chulalongkorn University published the study in European journal Maturitas, it said.

The report said the herb contains a high amount of phytoestrogens, a chemical produced by plants which has similar properties to oestrogen, the female hormone commonly used to treat osteoporosis.

"Oestrogen has been well documented to prevent bone loss," the newspaper quoted Nontakorn as...