Evaluation of the Effects of Artemisia austriaca on Morphine Withdrawal Syndrome in Rats

Opioidal analgesics are one of the most important drugs that have been widely used in attenuating moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, the problems of opioids long term usage are tolerance, dependence, and ultimately addiction to mentioned drugs. Glial cells (microglia and astrocyte) and pro-inflammatory cytokines are important factors in morphine tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. It has been demonstrated that Artemisia austriaca extract has got antinociceptive and anti inflammatory properties. In this study the effect of total methanolic extract of aerial parts of Artemisia austrica on withdrawal syndrome of morphine in male rats has been evaluated. Adult male Wistar rats were rendered morphine-dependent by injection of additive doses of morphine subcutaneously twice daily for 9 days. To determine the effect of Artemisia austriaca extract on morphine withdrawal syndrome, 1 hours after last morphine injection, different doses of the methanolic extract of Artemisia austriaca (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, i.p.) dissolved in its vehicle (%25 DMSO in saline), was injected and after 30 minutes, naloxone (4 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected and withdrawal signs were recorded for 45 minutes. The results showed that methanolic extract of Artemisia austriaca could reduce the morphine withdrawal symptoms in a dose-dependent manner. Conclution: The results of the present study indicate that Artemisia austriaca has beneficial effects in reducing withdrawal syndrome of morphine. The underlying mechanisms of this effect may consist of reduction of inflammatory response and attenuating of pro-inflammatory cytokines activation by its alkaloids content.