Treating Cocaine Addiction with Kudzu Extract

Various ways were developed to overcome drug addiction. And a recent study found that an extract of kudzu tree can treat cocaine addiction.

Researchers from Gilead Sciences Inc. found that an extract of kudzu trees that are being developed to treat alcohol addiction were also able to treat cocaine addiction.

Gilead continued experiments these drugs since last year, when the study was purchased from CV Therapeutics Inc..

According to the research that has been published in the journal Nature Medicine, suggests that this drug can stop the addiction to cocaine use.

"There is no effective treatment for cocaine addiction, although knowledge of the neurobiology of drug addiction is widespread," said Lina Yao, Ivan Diamond and colleagues, a team of researchers from Gilead, as reported by Reuters on Monday (8/23/2010) .

Kudzu is a drug that has long been used to treat alcoholism. The vine is native to Asia has spread across much of the southeastern United States, after being imported to overcome the soil erosion.

CV Therapeutics to extract synthetic called aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 selective inhibitors or ALDH2i. The study is named after the CVT-10 216.

Based on tests conducted, it was found that kudzu extract can stop the addiction to cocaine and may even prevent the onset of recurrence after the users free of cocaine.

Researchers discover how it works, namely by enhancing compound called tetrahydropapaveroline or THP. Addicted to cocaine will make the level of a brain chemical called dopamine increases and THP serves to disrupt the dopamine enhancement.

"We propose that the drug is safe, selective, reversible ALDH-2 inhibitors such as ALDH2i may have the potential to reduce human cocaine addiction and prevent relapse," wrote the researchers.