Potential use of medicinal plants in the treatment of alcoholism.
The present paper briefly reviews the most relevant experimental data on the reducing effect of some medicinal herbs on voluntary alcohol intake in animal models of alcoholism. Pueraria lobata, Tabernanthe iboga, Panax ginseng, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Hypericum perforatum proved to be effective in decreasing alcohol consumption. Reduction of alcohol absorption from the gastrointestinal system appears to be a common feature among most of the above plants. These data suggest that medicinal plants may constitute novel and effective pharmacotherapies for alcoholism.
Bernard B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, 09124, Cagliari, Italy.
M A
MA
Carai
R
R
Agabio
E
E
Bombardelli
I
I
Bourov
G L
GL
Gessa
C
C
Lobina
P
P
Morazzoni
M
M
Pani
R
R
Reali
G
G
Vacca
G
G
Colombo
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D029908:Pueraria; D051381:Rats; D027544:Salvia; D030014:Tabernaemontana
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts