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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2021, 23, N5 (pages: 47 - 56)

Berberis integerrima and berberine attenuate morphine reward memory and restore the reduction of CSF serotonin levels following morphine conditioned place preference in rats

Sabeghi S., Zahedi-Khorasani M., Ghanbari A., Khaleghian A., Doroodi F., and Miladi-Gorji H.

Summary: Background: Berberis integerrima is a well-known plant in traditional medicine, and has strong medicinal properties. Methods: The present study was designed to examine the effects of Berberis integerrima and its active constituent, berberine, on the morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and the levels of serotonin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after an extinction period in rats. In this study, adult male Wistar rats received injections of Berberis integerrima and berberine interperitoneally to allow assessment of the rewarding effects of morphine using a CPP paradigm. CSF serotonin levels were assessed after a 5-day extinction period by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The results showed that Berberis integerrima and berberine significantly attenuated the acquisition, expression, extinction and reinstatement of morphine CPP. While Berberis integerrima and berberine alone did not produce saline CPP, rats receiving Berberis integerrima and berberine during the extinction period showed a significantly higher level of serotonin in the CSF. Conclusions: We conclude that Berberis integerrima extract and berberine attenuated memories of morphine reward and lowered the reinstatement of morphine CPP after an extinction period in rats. It also restored the reduction of CSF serotonin levels induced by morphine CPP in rats. It must therefore be concluded that, as an adjunct therapy, Berberis integerrima may offer sunstantial benefits through its capacity to prevent relapse in opiate-addicted individuals.