Clove buds reduce inflammation caused by excessive drinking

Researchers from India report that clove buds can reduce the negative effects of drinking alcohol. Their study, which was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, investigated the effect of clove bud extracts on oxidative stress and inflammation caused by the buildup of acetaldehyde after binge-drinking.

• Acetaldehyde is the primary cytotoxin formed by the metabolism of alcohol. It causes liver injury, extracellular matrix alterations, inflammation, and hangover in heavy drinkers.
• For the study, the researchers used a randomized, double-blinded crossover study involving 16 male social drinkers.
• They randomly divided the participants into two groups: a placebo group and a treatment group.
• The treatment group received one capsule containing 250 milligrams (mg) of clove bud extract once a day.
• Then, the participants consumed 1 gram per kilogram (g/kg) body weight of alcohol per day.
• After a washout period of two weeks, the participants reversed their treatment regime.
• The researchers took blood samples from participants at 0, 0.5, 2, 4, and 12 hours after treatment with either placebo or clove bud extract and analyzed biochemical parameters.
• They also measured the severity of the hangover of the participants using a questionnaire.
• The results revealed that the clove bud extract treatment caused faster elimination of blood acetaldehyde compared to placebo treatment.
• It also significantly reduced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6.
• Additionally, it significantly improved glutathione and superoxide dismutase and reduced hangover severity by 55.34 percent.

From these findings, the researchers suggest that clove bud extracts can be used to alleviate the negative effects of binge-drinking.

To read more studies on natural medicines for the negative effects of alcohol consumption, visit NaturalMedicine.news.

Journal Reference:

Mammen RR, Natinga Mulakal J, Mohanan R, Maliakel B, Illathu Madhavamenon K. CLOVE BUD POLYPHENOLS ALLEVIATE ALTERATIONS IN INFLAMMATION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH BINGE DRINKING: A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLINDED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED CROSSOVER STUDY. Journal of Medicinal Food. 15 November 2018; 21(11): 1188-1196. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.4177