Kudzu Root: What It Is, Benefits, Side Effects and More

Modern clinical studies of kudzu and other herbal products tend to be flawed by large dropout rates, no measures of medication adherence, relatively few assessments, and no information on the source or dose of the preparation. We have analyzed a variety of commercial kudzu preparations and found them to vary widely kudzu to stop drinking in their isoflavone concentrations, even within the same manufacturer. These issues highlight the difficulties of evaluating the efficacy of dietary supplements. While randomized clinical trials are the best method for studying efficacy, such trials often fail because of methodological weaknesses (Linde, 2000).

• In another study, a water extract of Fructus evodiae possessed the ability to alleviate alcohol-induced gastric lesions in rats by strengthening the mucosal barrier integrity and increasing gastric mucosal nitric oxide synthesis [52].
• Cytochrome P450s, especially cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), is also involved in the oxidation of alcohol.
• After ginseng intervention, the blood alcohol levels and expiratory air-alcohol levels decreased and acetaldehyde levels slightly increased compared with the control.
• The lack of side effects after four weeks of treatment with both placebo and kudzu extract is likely one of the major reasons for the high rate of medication adherence.

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) interacts with KUDZU

The dietary fiber and flavonoids of Asparagus officinalis improved the plasma lipid profile and reduced liver oxidative damage in hypercholesterolemia mice model [81]. Kim et al. [82] analyzed the constituents of the young shoots and the leaves of asparagus, the result showed that the amino acid and inorganic mineral contents were higher in leave than in shoots. They also demonstrated that cellular toxicity induced by alcohol was relieved after treatment with the extracts of Asparagus officinalis leave and shoots. Additionally, the activities of two key enzymes that metabolize alcohol, ADH and ALDH, increased after treatment of leaf and shoot extracts [82].

• Thirty percent of current drinkers report drinking excessively (Naimi et al., 2003) and 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days (Town et al., 2006).
• More recently, kudzu root has made its way to Western countries as an herbal supplement.
• However, daidzin is an O-glycoside, and its sugar unit can be easily hydrolyzed under physiological conditions to give the aglycone (daidzein), which is a less hydrophilic metabolite.
• Interestingly, supplementation of 0.2% kudzu root extract in normal diet for 2 months reduced arterial pressure, body weight, fasting blood glucose, plasma total cholesterol, and insulin levels in both ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized SHR rats (Peng et al, 2009).

A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm

In response to these difficulties, Lukas and colleagues developed a concentrated kudzu extract with 25 percent isoflavones and developed the “natural laboratory” setting to test the extract’s effects. While the drinking pattern changed in kudzu users, the drinkers reported no change in their desire to drink when they began each session. Participants who took the extract in earlier studies said they felt more “tired,” “floating” and “intoxicated” after one drink, suggesting that kudzu “may be prolonging or enhancing the acute effects of the first drink,” Lukas says. In 2012, I ordered some high-quality organic kudzu capsules after reading about the potential for it to curb alcohol consumption. I took several capsules per day before drinking, and went through all of it in about one month.

KUDZU – Uses, Side Effects, and More

People have used it for many years in traditional Chinese medicine, and it resembles other root tubers, like yams. In its raw form, kudzu root resembles other root tubers, such as potatoes or yams. The room contained a small sink with an under-the-counter refrigerator where the beverages (beer, juice, and water) were kept.

Drugs & Supplements

Puerarin is injected iv in patients to treat coronary heart disease (Gao et al, 2015). Finally, we have just completed a study revealing that puerarin upregulates VMAT2 (dopamine transporter) gene expression, which has been implicated in the etiology of alcoholism (Xiong et al, 2016). Another mechanism that may contribute to the glucose lowering activity of puerarin is alteration in the expression of the glucose transporter (GLUT). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) 60 mg/kg iv Puerarin 15 mg/kg iv noticeably diminished blood glucose level and upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of the GLUT subtype 4 (GLUT-4) in soleus muscle cells (Hsu et al, 2003). Puerarin 100 mg/kg/day ip decreased the levels of blood glucose and insulin and the protein expression of GLUT-4 at the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle (Song and Bi, 2004).

• Still, more research needs to be done to prove whether it’s truly effective.
• Despite its history, the mechanism of action for kudzu extract is still unknown, and that is what the current research explores.
• The fact that kudzu extract nearly doubled the number of consecutive days that individuals maintained abstinence suggests that it may be a useful adjunct during the early weeks of treatment.
• We have analyzed a variety of commercial kudzu preparations and found them to vary widely in their isoflavone concentrations, even within the same manufacturer.
• In addition, another systematic review determined that evidence on benefits for any condition with various species of kudzu are limited and unclear (28).

Baicalein at the concentrations of 40–120 μM exerted cytotoxicity to three hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines but with little cytotoxicity to a normal liver cell line in vitro [124]. In addition, baicalin has potential beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in alcoholic fatty liver. I/R-induced hepatocellular damage was attenuated by inhibiting TLR4-mediated inflammatory [125].

Two hours before the first visit, we gave both sub-groups a pill – neither group knew whether they were getting the supplement or the placebo. When they visited the bar, beer, spirits and white wine were freely available. The amount of alcohol consumed was calculated for each group (1 unit per drink of beer or spirits, 1.6 units per glass of wine).

However, most treatments have several shortcomings, such as neuritis, gastrointestinal (nausea) and central nervous system-related symptoms [31]. Thus, novel treatments are being developed and researched with the intention of improving effectiveness. Recent experimental evidences https://ecosoberhouse.com/ suggested that novel pharmacological approaches for treatment of hangover and alcohol use disorders may derive from natural products [32,33]. Several plant-derived compounds have been shown to significantly reduce alcohol intake, alcohol craving and withdrawal syndrome.