Kudzu in America

kudzu After it's introduction as an ornamental plant,  Mr. C.E. Pleas of Florida discovered, as the Chinese and Japanese already knew, that Kudzu is incredibly useful as forage for all domesticated farm animals.  By 1910 he was growing acres of Kudzu and selling wagon loads of Kudzu "hay". He also began promoting the plant and selling cuttings through the mail.

This led the U.S. Post Office to investigate him for mail fraud; as they did not believe his claims about how quickly the plant grew. A charge they subsequently dropped with apologies after observing his plants growth rate over several days.
Mr. Pleas continued as Kudzu's biggest booster until he died in the early 50's
 
From 1935 to the mid-50s the Soil Conservation Service , as a part of FDR's New Deal, encouraged farmers in the southeastern United States to plant kudzu to reduce soil erosion caused by intensive cultivation of nutrient-robbing crops like corn, cotton and tobacco. It was also used as one of the key erosion controls for the TVA's dam projects. (1)

Kudzu's nitrogen fixing qualities help replenish poor soil. The quick-spreading vine, growing up to 12 inches in a single day, effectively controls even the worst erosion. The leaves, pods and flowers are incredibly nutritious (link) or both animals and people. The starch from the vines and roots is known to be the finest cooking starch in existence. The vine provides fibers that can be used to make paper or to make fabric woven to be water resistant or to rival the qualities of silk. In Asian countries, kudzu is used in a variety of medicinal applications; both internally and externally.

There are the numerous researchers trying to develop ways to eradicate as a virulent weed. There are those narrowly touting the potential of Kudzu as a source for biofuel materials (link) (7) (link) or as a useful medicinal herb.(2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Clinical studies have suggested that these health-promoting components, saponins, affect the immune system in ways that help to protect the human body against cancers, and also lower cholesterol levels. Saponins decrease blood lipids, lower cancer risks, and lower blood glucose response. A high saponin diet can be used in the inhibition of dental caries and platelet aggregation, in the treatment of hypercalciuria in humans, and as an antidote against acute lead poisoning. In epidemiological studies, saponins have been shown to have an inverse relationship with the incidence of renal stones (link). 
 
There is a dangerous tunnel vision regarding our limited natural resources. We tend to think of resources in terms of a singular and single use. I will touch on this idea in other places. But for now, I will suggest that it would be more respectful to consider the plant as a whole. And to consider how to use every possible part so that nothing is wasted.



Footnotes

Kudzu

1. Shurtleff and Aoyagi: The book of Kudzu

2. Arao T et al: Oleanene-type triterpene glycosides from puerariae radix, IV: six new saponins from Pueraria Lobata, Chem Pharm Bulletin (Tokyo) 45(2): 362-366, 1997
Saponins are compounds that form stable soap-like compunds in water.

3. Keung W: Biochemical studies of a new class of alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors from radix  puerariae. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 17: 1254, 1993a
This study examined the presence of reversible inhibitors of  an enzyme needed to metabolize alcohol in humans.

4. Keung W et al: Daidzin and daidzin supress free-choice ethanol intake by Syrian Golden Hamsters, Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 90: 10008-10012 1993b
Hamsters voluntary intake of ethanol  decreased approximately 50% after Kudzu was administered. The levels of intake returned to previous levels once the Kudzu was stopped.

5. Keung W  et al: Kudzu root: an ancient Chinese source of modern antidipsotropic agents, Phytochemistry 47 (4): 499-506, 1998
This study pinpointed daidzin and daidsein as two of the chemical components of Kudzu responsible for the suppression of alcholism.

6. Qicheng F: Some current study and research approaches relating to the use of plants in traditional Chinese medicine, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2 (1): 57-63,  1980
Kudzu has been used to sucessfully treat cardiovascular disorders like  angina, cardiac ischemia and hypertension. It has been sucessfully used in cases of arteriosclerosis  due to it's ability to increase cerebral blood flow and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption.

7. USDA Research Publications: The Potential Use of Kudzu as a Biofuel

8. Discovery News: Kudzu Gets Kudos as a Potential Biofuel 06/08


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