Ethnopharmacological Applications Targeting Alcohol Abuse: Overview and Outlook

Author: mycolabadmin
2020-02-14
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Summary

This research examines how traditional plant-based medicines could help treat alcohol addiction and abuse. The study found that certain medicinal plants can reduce alcohol cravings and consumption while causing fewer side effects than conventional drugs. Here’s how this impacts everyday life: • Provides potentially safer treatment options for people struggling with alcohol addiction • Offers natural alternatives that may be more accessible and culturally acceptable in many communities • Could reduce healthcare costs associated with treating alcohol-related conditions • May help prevent alcohol-related accidents and social problems • Opens new possibilities for developing improved treatments for addiction using natural compounds

Background

Excessive alcohol consumption is a major public health concern worldwide, causing numerous diseases and deaths. Alcohol consumption has increased significantly over recent decades, with current conventional pharmacotherapy having limited efficacy and adverse effects. This has led to growing interest in natural products and traditional medicine approaches for treating alcohol abuse and dependence.

Objective

To provide a comprehensive overview of medicinal plants and natural products used in various traditional medicine systems for targeting alcohol abuse, including their mechanisms of action, preclinical studies, and clinical evidence. The review aims to evaluate the potential of ethnopharmacological approaches as alternatives or complements to current pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence.

Results

The review identified several promising plant species including Pueraria montana, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Hypericum perforatum, Panax ginseng, and others that showed anti-alcohol effects through various mechanisms including modulation of neurotransmitter systems, alcohol metabolism, and oxidative stress pathways. Both preclinical and some clinical studies demonstrated potential efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption and withdrawal symptoms with generally fewer side effects compared to conventional drugs.

Conclusion

Natural products and traditional medicine approaches show promise as alternative or complementary treatments for alcohol abuse, with evidence supporting their efficacy and generally better safety profiles compared to conventional pharmaceuticals. However, more rigorous clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate their therapeutic potential. The review suggests herbal remedies may provide unique opportunities for developing new pharmacotherapies for alcohol withdrawal and relapse prevention.

Published in:Frontiers in Pharmacology,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01593