Table 2: Anti-addiction effects of herbal preparations.

Herb	Mechanisms	Effects	References
St John’s Wort Hypericin Quercetin, rutin	Decreased 5-HT and GABA reuptake Decreased DA degradation Synergist to OPR, DA receptor agonist	Decrease in alcohol intake and craving	De Vry, et al. Panocka, et al. Perfumi, et al. Rezvani, et al. [178-182].
Kudzu root Puerarin, diadzein	Decreased 5-HT and DA degradation BZD-GABAA synergist 5-HT2c and GABAA agonist	Decrease in alcohol intake, craving and withdrawal symptom Increase in alcohol degradation Anxiolytic	Benlhabib, et al. Overstreet, et al. Keung, et al. Heyman, et al. [44-46,183,184].
Tabernanthe iboga Ibogaine (toxic) 18-methoxycoro Naridine (non toxic)	Decreased DAergic, DA levels, k-OPR signaling, DA release NMDA mediated GABA release	Decrease in craving and alcohol drinking	Rezvani, et al. Sweetnam, et al. Sershen, et al. Leal and de Gusmao [185-189].
Ginseng Ginsenosides	Not understood	Decrease in alcohol toxicity	Harun, et al. [190].
Kava (Piper methysticum forst)	Decrease in NE and DA reuptake, and Glu release	Decrease in stress and brain DA levels	Steiner, Cairney, et al. Baum, et al. [191-193].
Voacanga africana	Increase in GABAergic activity	Decrease in craving and withdrawal symptoms	Kombian, et al. [194].
Ashwagandha withania A	Decrease in GABA binding to GABAA receptor and Ca^2+ channels.	Decrease in craving	Kulkarni and Ninan 1997 Andrade, et al. Sudhir, et al. [195-197].
Salvia miltiorrhiza Tanshinones I, II Miltrone	BZD-GABAA synergist Increase in DA release	Decrease in alcohol intake	Colombo, et al. Imanshahidi and Hosseinzadeh [198,199].