Evaluation of the Sophora alopecuroides var. alopecuroides seed effects on
morphine withdrawal syndrome in mice and determination of the
alkaloid composition of the seed total extract.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of the seed total extract,
alkaloid fraction and major compound
matrine on the mice
morphine withdrawal syndrome were compared to saline and
methadone. Mice were made dependent on
morphine by
morphine sulfate injection 3 times a day for 3 days. The withdrawal jumping and
diarrhea were induced by administration of
naloxone 2 hr after the 10th injection of
morphine sulfate on the day 4. The total extract (100, 200, 300 mg/kg),
alkaloid fraction (5, 10, 20 mg/kg),
matrine (5, 15, 30 mg/kg),
methadone (10 mg/kg) or saline were injected 30 min before
naloxone. All drugs were administered by
subcutaneous injection. The total extract
alkaloid composition was also determined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-MS analysis.
RESULTS: CONCLUSION: S. alopecuroides var. alopecuroides suppresses
opioid withdrawal with efficacy comparable to
methadone.
Matrine may be one of the
alkaloids responsible for the effect of the plant.