The Effect of Berberine Hydrochloride on cognitive, lerning, memory impairments and Motor disfunction in methamphetamine withdrawn rats

Meth-amphetamine (METH) is a potent stimulant of the central nervous system that imitates the function of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, releasing dopamine and serotonin and increasing the amount of glutamate in the brain a buse causes movement disorders and there is no medication for treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of berberic on cognitive and motor disorders induced by methamphetamine addiction in rats.  

In this study, 30 Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups: control, methamphetamine addiction and methamphetamine addiction, with Berberine Hydrochloride (100 mg / kg / day) during the three-week period of withdrawal. Two groups received free methamphetamine solutions for two weeks (up to 12 mg/kg). Then, at the and of three weeks of drug withdrawal was evaluated with behavioral Y maze test and Morris water maze (MWM). Finally, for one week, two bottles of one water and one methamphetamine were provided to all groups to assess the rate of relapse of the rats in the use of methamphetamine.

Two weeks of methamphetamine addiction caused cognitive-motor function impairment in rat and three weeks treatment with Berberine Hydrochloride significantly increased the percentage of entry into the unknown arm and alternation percentage versus the untreated group in y maze (P <0.05). Also, this group showed a significant increase in percentage of distance and time and frequency of motion to the platform on the probe day in Morris water maze compared to the non-treated group (P <0.05). The results showed that Berberine-treated addicted groups (100 mg/kg/day) has significant improvement rather than addicted groups in y maze task and Morris water maze (MWM) task during withdrawal and decreased relapse rates in rats.  

Berberine Hydrochloride administration for 3 weeks improves cognition and Motor Function impairment in methamphetamine addiction.