Preliminary Study of the Effect of Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib on Blood Alcohol Levels of Drinking Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

Rationale and objective: The aim of this randomized controlled trial study was to test the effects of Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib (ya-nang daeng, in Thai) extract on blood alcohol levels of drinking healthy volunteers in comparison with placebo.

Methodology: Participants were 59 men (aged 20–45 years, mean age: 29.5), 43 in the 20–30 age group and 16 in the 31–45 age group; and the numbers of treatment/placebo participants in the two age groups were 28/15 and 8/8, respectively. All volunteers received 120 ml of alcoholic drink containing ethanol 42 ml once and the blood alcohol concentrations were measured using a breath alcohol analyzer 15 minutes later. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either 1 sachet of herbal effervescent powder, containing 1.3 g of Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib extract with the extraction ratio of 11.9:1, or placebo effervescent powder without the herbal extract. The clinical assessments included blood alcohol measurement and responses to a questionnaire on health status. Blood alcohol concentrations were measured every 15 minutes for 2 hours and the participants were requested to answer the questionnaire about their health conditions during study.

Results: In the 20–30 age group, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in blood alcohol concentrations in the treatment group and the placebo group, from the 45th minute onwards, but in the 31–45 age group, no significant difference was observed. No side effects were found during the period of study.

Discussion and conclusion: Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib extract could reduce blood alcohol concentrations in the younger age group and there were no side effects. This research shows the potential of Bauhinia strychnifoliaextract as an anti-alcohol remedy.