Aim: To investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Afghan Ferula assa-foetida L. oleo gum resin on the withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats.
Methods: This study was carried out in 2018. Rats divided into 5 groups (1 Normal Saline, 1 Morphine, and 3 Extract groups). The rats that received morphine and extract became morphine-dependent by subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of morphine hydrochloride for 7 days (2.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/kg doses twice daily on 1st to 6th days respectively, and a single dose of 50 mg/kg on 7th day). The extract groups received 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg doses of the Ferula assa-foetida L. oleo gum resin aqueous extract by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration simultaneously with morphine. Two hours after the administration of the last dose of morphine, Naloxone (3 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected and withdrawal signs were noted for 30 minutes.
Results: The results showed that the administration of the Ferula assa-foetida L. oleo gum resin aqueous extract (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased most of the naloxone induced withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats (P
Key words: Afghanistan; Ferula assa-foetida L.; Morphine dependence; oleo gum resin; Substance withdrawal signs
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