Dihydromyricetin

What is Dihydromyricetin?
Dihydromyricetin, also known as ampelopsin, is a flavanonol, a type of flavonoid, a chinese herbal tea that had been taken for more than 2000 years as a hangover remedy. In 2008 dihydromyricetin was approved by the Korean FDA for use as a treatment for alcoholism. Dihydromyricetin has also been shown to be effective in treating oral ulcers, and antioxidant properties.

Dihydromyricetin is credited with hepatoprotective effects observed in rodents. Use of Hovenia species in traditional Chinese herbal medicine as a hangover cure has led to research into the potential action of dihydromyricetin in counteracting the effects of alcohol in the brain.

Botanical sources: Dihydromyricetin in nature
Dihydromyricetin is found naturally in a plant named Hovenia Dulcis, also called the oriental raisin tree. Dihydromyricetin can be found in Cedrus deodara or in the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis).It is also found in Erythrophleum africanum, and vine tea extract. This hardy tree occurs from Japan, Korean, Eastern China to the Himalayas. Along with many flavonoid compounds found in this tree, dihydromyricetin is maybe the only antioxidant with anti-alcohol and liver protecting properties.

Dihydromyricetin Solubility and Stability
Dihydromyricetin or DHM, as a substance, is easy soluble in hot water. It is also soluble in ethanol, acetone and/or methanol — hot or cold. Dihydromyricetin is only slightly soluble in acetic ether, and is completely insoluble in chloroform and petroleum ether.
Dihydromyricetin is stable in heat, but when heated to 100℃ or above, it is irreversibly oxidized. The substance is stable in acidity and neutral.

Mechanism of Action of Dihydromyricetin
How does dihydromyricetin work? What makes the flavonoid dihydromyricetin capable of counteracting alcohol intoxication? Dihydromyricetin appears to have two Mechanisms of Action that allow it to accomplish its two main benefits: the anti-oxidative effects of dihydromyricetin appear to be due to its ability to remove Fe and Fe2+ ions from the body; both Fe and Fe2+ are heavy metals that can have negative effects on the body when present in higher amounts. The second mechanism of action for dihydromyricetin is acting as an antagonist for the GABA(A) receptors in the brain; these receptors are potentiated when a person is in a state of acute alcohol consumption. On a related note, dihydromyricetin also has been found to improve GABA(A) receptor plasticity in alcohol withdrawal and tolerance.

Dihydromyricetin inhibited the effects of alcohol on the brain’s GABAA receptors. This is important, because alcohol typically enhances the influence of GABAA receptors in processes that results in symptoms of drunkenness, such as slowed brain cell activity, increasing drowsiness, and a reduced ability to communicate.

Your liver processes alcohol at a constant rate. When you consumer more alcohol than your liver can process, the alcohol is released into the bloodstream until your liver can get to it later. When alcohol reaches your brain, it affects two different neurotransmitters. Simply put, neurotransmitters are chemicals your brain cells use to control emotions, movement, behavior and thought processes. Two categories of neurotransmitters are inhibitory and exhibitory. Inhibitory neurotransmitters have a calming effect and “slow” things down. Exhibitory neurotransmitters increase energy levels and brain activity. One neurotransmitter affected by alcohol is GABA. Alcohol binds to GABA receptors in your brain and amplifies its effect. As the brain receives a stronger message from GABA, you begin to feel calm, and your heart rate slows down. When you continue to drink, GABA signals are amplified further and further. Eventually, you experience loss of motor control, inhibitions are lowered and your speech begins to slur. You now have that feeling of being buzzed or even more, you feel drunk.

How DHM works – More science simply stated, Dihydromyricetin blocks alcohol from affecting GABA Receptors. Dihydromyricetin binds to GABA receptors in the brain and blocks the effect alcohol has on GABA receptors. Theoretically, this should reduce certain feelings related to intoxication as alcohol is only amplifying the exhibitory neurotransmitter Glutamate (another neurotransmitter affected by alcohol). When Dihydromyricetin is taken before drinking, alcohol can’t amplify GABA and you don’t feel as intoxicated. When dihydromyricetin is taken after drinking, it can accelerate the rate at which one sobers up. Dihydromyricetin also helps to speed up the liver’s ability to process alcohol.

Benefits of dihydromyricetin
Dihydromyricetin (Ampelopsin), extracted from Hovenia dulcis (Japanese Raisin Tree) or Vine Tea extract, has traditionally been used as an anti-Alcohol herb and hangover cure. At least one human study has noted that, when taken before drinking, it can reduce circulating levels of alcohol. Dihydromyricetin prevents Hangovers, sobers you up quicker, prevents Drunkenness, and protects your liver

Dihydromyricetin and the Liver
There have been several in-depth studies on the effect that Dihydromyricetin can have on the liver (mostly as a hepatprotective against alcohol damage to the liver). One study by Jian Xi & her team called “Effect of juice and fermented vinegar from Hovenia dulcis peduncles on chronically alcohol-induced liver damage in mice” showed that hovenia dulcis extract (DHM as used in Sobur) has a significant protective effect against alcohol-induced liver damage.

A separate study showed that dihydromyricetin also has the ability to reduce injuries all ready caused to the liver. Essentially, dihydromyricetin can work to both protect your liver while you drink (if taken beforehand), while also helping to repair damage caused to your liver after one-too-many nights out on the town.

Recommended Dosage for dihydromyricetin
As dihydromyricetin is still a relatively new herbal drug, it’s dosages have only really been tested on rats and mice. An alcohol extract of 125mg per kg of bodyweight has been used in rats with efficacy, which translates to an estimated human dosage of:
1,400mg for a 150lb person
1,800mg for a 200lb person
2,300mg for a 250lb person
These are estimated human maximum doses based on rat studies. Sobur capsules contain 300mg of dihydromyricetin each, an amount we tested and deemed more then capable of eliminating common hangovers.

Where to buy dihydromyricetin?
Herb Nutritionals Co., Ltd is the manufacturer of dihydromyricetin extracted from natural Vine Tea extract, or other sources as the demand of our clients. The general specifications available include dihydromyricetin 90%, 95% and 98%. If you need certificate of analysis (COA), MSDS, of dihydromyricetin, please drop an email to us and we will reply to you in 12 hours.