title: Inhibitory Effect of Berberis vulgaris Aqueous Extract on Acquisition and Reinstatement Effects of Morphine in Conditioned Place Preferences (CPP) in Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been elucidated that Berberis vulgaris (barberry) can alleviate morphine withdrawal syndrome. Also it has been reported that aqueous extract of barberry possibly have inhibitory effect on NMDA receptors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we decided to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of B. vulgaris fruit on morphine tendency in mice using conditioned place preference (CPP) method.
  
  
  METHODS
  In experiment 1 (acquisition phase), mice underwent morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) training with injections of morphine (40 mg/kg). In experiment 2 (extinction and reinstatement phases), mice underwent the same CPP training as in experiment 1 and subsequent extinction training on day 16th a reinstatement by CPP was done by injection of reminding 10 mg/kg morphine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The administration of morphine (40 mg/kg for four days) produced place preference. In the first method, the aqueous extract of barberry (200 mg/kg) prevented morphine tendency to white cell in CPP method. In the second method, after inter-peritoneal injection of aqueous extracts of barberry at 100 and 200 mg/kg, the animals tendency toward the white cells of CPP chamber on the sixteenth day (after a reminder injection of morphine 10 mg/kg) was significantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that aqueous extract of barberry can reduce the acquisition and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imenshahidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qaredashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemzaei
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
keywords: Berberis vulgaris; Methods; Morphine; Withdrawal Syndrome