Sobhan Kasraeifar - Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Amin Mokhtari-Zaer - Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran
Narges Marefati - Dept. of Physiology and Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hassan Rakhshandeh - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahmoud Hosseini - Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background and Objective: Datura stramonium L. is a medicinal herb from the family of Solanaceae. It has been used in herbal remedies for promoting health and treating several diseases. The current study was set up to compare the effects of Datura stramonium L. extract on the naloxone-precipitated opiate-withdrawal in mice. Materials and Methods: Male BALB/c mice (۳۰–۳۵ g, n = ۴۰) were arbitrarily separated into ۴ groups. The control group received morphine and normal saline and other groups received three doses of D. stramonium extract (۱۰, ۲۰, or ۳۰ mg/kg, intraperitoneally, i.p.). Physically dependent was made by the administration of morphine in increasing doses (۵۰-۷۵ mg/kg, i.p.). The withdrawal signs were elicited by intraperitoneal injections of naloxone (۵ mg/kg) ۲ h after the last injection of morphine. Results: Administration of D. stramonium extract in doses of ۲۰ and ۳۰ mg/kg markedly diminished the jumping numbers compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۵). All three doses of D. stramonium extract could significantly suppress the increase in climbing (P<۰.۰۵, P<۰.۰۰۱, and P<۰.۰۰۱, respectively) and diarrhea (P<۰.۰۰۱). D. stramonium in higher doses (۲۰ or ۳۰ mg/kg) significantly decreased rearing and itching (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The study findings suggest that D. stramonium extract is effective in alleviating the signs of morphine withdrawal. Additional research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms underlying D. stramonium for inhibiting morphine withdrawal syndrome.

Morphine Withdrawal Signs, Naloxone, Datura stramonium extract, Opioid Addiction