Gholamreza Karimi - Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Medical Research Toxicology Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Toktam Ziaee - School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Azam Nazari - Pharmacist

ObjectiveThis study was initiated to investigate the effect of Portulaca oleraceae on morphine dependence in mice.Materials and MethodsDependence was induced using the subcutaneous injections of morphine for ۳ days. On the day ۴, morphineinjected ۲ h prior to intraperitoneal injection of naloxone. The plant extracts ethanolic or aqueousadministered ۰.۵ h before the final dose of morphine. The number of jumping during the ۳۰ min period after naloxone injection was considered as a measure of withdrawal syndrome.ResultsBoth extracts reduced the jumping episodes dose-dependently. The maximum effect was observed at dosesof ۰.۲۸ g/kg and ۱.۴ g/kg for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Clonidine and extractsdecreased the total activity in locomotion test.ConclusionThese findings indicated that Portulacea oleraceae extracts can decrease morphine dependence in mice.

Morphine, Dependence, Portulaca oleraceae