Extracts from a close relative of the humble kitchen herb sage could help alcoholics, Italian researchers say.
The researchers from the National Research Council's institute in Cagliari (IN-CNR) say the active ingredient from a type of Chinese medicinal sage has been shown to turn alcoholic mice into tee-totallers.
The next stage will be research on humans, Giancarlo Colombo of IN-CNR said.
"We're very excited about the prospects for this Chinese sage," Colombo said in a telephone interview with ANSA.
"It's been working brilliantly in mice and we're about to start on our human guinea pigs, once we're sure it's entirely safe."
The Chinese sage, whose scientific name is Salvia Miltiorrhiza, is one of the many herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.
It has been used for centuries in China to treat blood diseases, heart disorders, haemorrhages, menstrual problems, edema (swelling, usually of the joints), and insomnia.
Now, some practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have reportedly extended its range of applications, Colombo said.
"We heard there were some reports of it being applied in extreme cases of alcoholism. We pricked up our ears, because that's what all our research is about," the researcher said.
If demonstrated in humans, the efficacy of the Chinese sage would provide science with a welcome tool against alcoholism, a disorder which has proved very hard to treat by chemical means.
There are very few alcoholism drugs on the market and most tend to reduce rather than eliminate cravings.
Many alcoholics turn to the well-known support network provided by Alcoholics Anonymous but even AA cannot prevent relapse.
According to Colombo, the Chinese sage slows the appearance of alcoholism traits in mice whose genetic make-up has been tweaked to make them more susceptible to drink.
It reduces consumption in mice which are heavy drinkers and also eliminates a customary spike in drinking seen when mice go back on the bottle after being on the wagon for a while.
"What's more, it appears to be completely devoid of side effects, so far at least," Colombo said.
The Italian scientist thinks the herb may be able to turn alcoholics into moderate drinkers, a goal that has so far proved elusive.
