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Howenia is sweet is a plant that weakens the effects of alcohol. Thanks to it, you can drink alcohol without worrying about side effects, such as: intoxication, hangover or addiction, according to research by scientists from the University of California. According to researchers, howenia sweet could be a drug used in the treatment of alcoholism. All thanks to one of the substances contained in the plant - dihydromyricetin. Check how howenia sweet inhibits the effects of alcohol.
Howenia sweet( Hovenia dulcis ) is a Japanese raisin tree that grows mainly in Asia. They can also be found in Poland, where it is bred as an ornamental plant. Ripe sweet howenia flowers are also used in cooking because they are very sweet and their seed extract can be an alternative to honey.
In 2012, howenia sweet was discovered to reduce the effects of alcohol. The results of research carried out by scientists from the University of California showed that one of the active substances of the plant:dihydromyricetin flavonoid (DHM) , reduces the impact of alcohol on the human brain: it prevents alcohol intoxication and reduces the effects of its withdrawal.
What is DHM and how does it work?
DHM is a flavonoid present in the leaves and flowers of howenia. So far, this compound has been used mainly in cosmetology to inhibit hair regrowth (it is included in, among others, post-depilation creams). According to researchers, DHM blocks GABAA receptors in the brain, which are affected by both acute and chronic alcohol poisoning.
How does Howenia sweet reduce the effects of alcohol?
In 2012, a team of researchers led by prof. Jing Liang and prof. Richard W. Olsen conducted a study on rats (which react to alcohol like humans) to demonstrate the unusual properties of howenia sweet.
In the initial phase of the study, the rats were given the equivalent of 15-20 beers for intoxication for 2 hours. After being knocked over on their back, the rodents were unable to twist and stand on their feet for more than an hour. This was because alcohol affected their brain GABAA receptors, which resulted in the symptoms of intoxication: slowing brain function and loss of body control.
In the next stage of the experiment, rodentsalcohol was administered and an injection of DHM (1 mg / kg body weight). Rats also could not stand on their feet on their own, but later lost control of the body than animals consuming only alcohol. In addition, the effects of consuming the percentages with DHM disappeared faster than after the administration of alcohol alone, after just 15 minutes. Moreover, 2 days after drinking with alcohol, the rodents treated with dihydromyricetin had no withdrawal syndrome: anxiety and susceptibility to seizures did not increase. Additionally, this group of animals did not develop alcohol tolerance. The rats had access to alcohol throughout the experiment, so they could drink more and more freely. It turned out, however, that animals given dihydromyricetin drank only 1/4 of the amount of alcohol consumed by rats that did not receive the drug.
As prof. Liang, whose research published in the Journal of Neuroscience - If you drink alcohol with DHM, you will never get addicted. At any time, it will be easy to get rid of the intoxication effect, and we will not suffer from a very troublesome hangover - argues prof. Liang.
Will howenia sweet be used to treat alcoholism?
Human clinical trials are expected to start soon. High hopes are placed in them because, according to the World He alth Organization, as many as 140 million people worldwide struggle with alcoholism, and 2.5 million die every year due to alcohol addiction.
Source: medicalxpress.com
http: //medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-herbal-drug-effects-alcohol.html