title: Saffron (Crocus sativus) ethanolic extract and its constituent, safranal, inhibits morphine-induced place preference in mice.
abstract: The effects of saffron ethanolic extract and its constituent, safranal, on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced place preference (CPP) in male Swiss Webster mice (20-25 g) were investigated in the present study. An unbiased place conditioning method was applied for assessment of morphine reward properties. The saffron extract and safranal were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) during (acquisition) or after induction (expression) of morphine CPP. In a pilot study, the extract and safranal were alone administered to the animals to assess if they have any reward properties. Subcutaneous (s.c.) of morphine (4 and 8 mg kg(-1)) and extract (50 mg kg(-1); i.p.) induced CPP. Extract (10, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1); i.p.) reduced the acquisition and expression of morphine CPP. The same results were obtained when safranal (1, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1), i.p.) was used. It may be concluded that both ethanolic saffron extract and safranal can inhibit the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced CPP in the mice.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah (a.s.) University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghoshooni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daryaafzoon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadeghi-Gharjehdagi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zardooz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahraei
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tehrani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noroozzadeh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahrami-Shenasfandi
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kaka
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sadraei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012201:Reward; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D000431:Ethanol; C087963:safranal; D009020:Morphine