Effect of Portulaca oleraceae L. extracts on the Morphine Dependence in Mice

Objective This study was initiated to investigate the effect of Portulaca oleraceae on morphine dependence in mice. Materials and Methods Dependence was induced using the subcutaneous injections of morphine for 3 days. On the day 4, morphine injected 2 h prior to intraperitoneal injection of naloxone. The plant extracts ethanolic or aqueous administered 0.5 h before the final dose of morphine. The number of jumping during the 30 min period after naloxone injection was considered as a measure of withdrawal syndrome. Results Both extracts reduced the jumping episodes dose-dependently. The maximum effect was observed at doses of 0.28 g/kg and 1.4 g/kg for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Clonidine and extracts decreased the total activity in locomotion test. Conclusion These findings indicated that Portulacea oleraceae extracts can decrease morphine dependence in mice.