An Extract of the Chinese Herbal Root Kudzu Reduces Alcohol Drinking by Heavy Drinkers in a Naturalistic Setting

Abstract

These data suggest that an extract of this leguminous plant may be a useful adjunct in reducing alcohol intake in a naturalistic setting.

Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Hangover and Alcohol Use Disorder

“…The number of beers consumed and the volume of each sip was decreased while the number of sips and the time to consume each beer was increased. There were no reported side effects of kudzu treatment [45]. In another study, 20 men participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind design experiment, where kudzu extract (2 g) with an active isoflavone content of 520 mg, quickly reduced alcohol intake in a binge drinking paradigm [46].…”

“…Mice Suppression of alcohol-induced liver steatosis by modulating the disturbance of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α pathway and ameliorating mitochondrial function [42] Cells Suppression of alcohol-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells [43] Puerarin and daidzein Root Humans Reduced alcohol intake in a naturalistic setting [45] Humans Reduced alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm [46] Rats Reduced anxiogenic effects of alcohol withdrawal via increased social interaction and locomotor activity [47] Rats Mitigation of liver damage (AST, ALT, GGT) and lipid deposition induced by chronic alcohol intake as well as TNF-α release, protein expression of endotoxin receptors [48] Fructus evodiae Dehydroevodiamine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine Dried and unripe fruit Mice Alleviation of hangover through stimulating the expression of hepatic alcohol metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes [50] Rats Prevention of alcohol-induced gastric mucosal lesions by strengthening the mucosal barrier integrity and increasing gastric mucosal nitric oxide (NO) synthesis [51] Trigonela foenum-graecum Polyphenols Seeds Cells Prevention of the toxic effects of alcohol through increased cell viability, reduced lactate dehydrogenase leakage and normalized GSH/GSSG ratios [53,55] Rats Suppressed alcohol-induced abnormalities in the liver through restoration of liver enzymes, ADH and ALDH activities [54] Rats Suppression of alcohol toxicity through prevention of enzymatic leakage, and improved lipid profiles [56][57][58] …”

From Herbal Roots to Synthetic Medicines: A Historical Perspective

“…In humans, a study of the efficacy of Kudzu extract containing these three major isoflavones has been performed in heavy drinking subjects. The Kudzu extract produced significant reductions in total intake in a drinking session, accompanied by increases in the number of small sips and the time to consume a unit of beverage (Lukas et al, 2005).…”

A case of generalized urticaria caused by arrowroot ingestion

“…1 In recent times, it has been used to treat alcohol addiction because it contains many useful isoflavones. Other studies 3,4 have demonstrated that it effectively inhibits microbial growth. Although it has been used widely, few cases of hypersensitivity reactions induced by arrowroot ingestion have been reported.…”

“…2 Cases of allergy to gerbils have rarely been reported, and gerbil allergens have not been characterized to date. 3,4 A 33-year-old female biologist and smoker with pollinosis who worked with guinea pigs and gerbils was treated at Fundación Jiménez Díaz. One year after she began working with gerbils, she developed symptoms of nasal and ocular itching, tearing, sneezing, runny nose, and nasal stuffiness while working in the research facility with the gerbils.…”