Suppression of heavy drinking and alcohol seeking by a selective ALDH-2 inhibitor

MP Arolfo; DH Overstreet; L Yao; P Fan; AJ Lawrence; G Tao; WM Keung; BL Vallee; MF Olive; JT Gass; E Rubin; H Anni; CW Hodge; J Besheer; J Zablocki; K Leung; BK Blackburn; LG Lange; I Diamond

Journal article

Suppression of heavy drinking and alcohol seeking by a selective ALDH-2 inhibitor

MP Arolfo, DH Overstreet, L Yao, P Fan, AJ Lawrence, G Tao, WM Keung, BL Vallee, MF Olive, JT Gass, E Rubin, H Anni, CW Hodge, J Besheer, J Zablocki, K Leung, BK Blackburn, LG Lange, I Diamond

Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research | Published : 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01031.x

Abstract

Background: Inherited human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH-2) deficiency reduces the risk for alcoholism. Kudzu plants and extracts have been used for 1,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat alcoholism. Kudzu contains daidzin, which inhibits ALDH-2 and suppresses heavy drinking in rodents. Decreased drinking due to ALDH-2 inhibition is attributed to aversive properties of acetaldehyde accumulated during alcohol consumption. However, daidzin can reduce drinking in some rodents without necessarily increasing acetaldehyde. Therefore, a selective ALDH-2 inhibitor might affect other metabolic factors involved in regulating drinking. Methods: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 inhibitors were s..

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