According to a new study, a synthetic derivative of Kudzu vine may become a natural health resource to treat those facing the challenge of alcoholism or who want to prevent a relapse.

Kudzu vine contains a substance called daidzin, and a team of scientists from the University of California at San Francisco found that it inhibits human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH-2), which metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde.

They explain the inhibitory process leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, which produces aversive effects and may turn people away from drinking.

“Extracts of various parts of the kudzu vine have been used in many Chinese herbal medicine formulas and are said to be helpful in treating a variety of maladies, including alcoholism and intoxication,” says Ting-Kai Li, a professor in the department of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and former director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

“Recent research has found that several compounds of the isoflavone family – puerarin, daidzin, daidzein – in the kudzu extract decrease alcohol intake in experimental animals,” he adds.

The researchers also stress that the treatment appears to be non-toxic.

According to TreatmentCenters.net, an addiction treatment resource organization, approximately 14 million Americans battle an alcohol addiction. In 2005, the costs of alcohol dependence and abuse amounted to some $220 billion.