title: Beneficial effects of Bacopa monnieri extract on opioid induced toxicity.
abstract: The present study examined the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of morphine and illicit street heroin and their amelioration by a standardized methanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri (L.) (mBME) in rats. Morphine or street heroin was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 14 and 21 days. mBME (40 mg/kg) or ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg) was administered two hours before morphine or street heroin. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the standardization of bacoside-A major components in mBME. The antioxidant potential of mBME was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Administration of morphine and street heroin resulted in marked elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine. Histopathological changes induced by morphine and street heroin after 14 days were of reversible nature while treatment for 21 days was associated with irreversible changes. Pretreatment with mBME or ascorbic acid restored the elevation of serum ALT, AST and creatinine and protected liver and kidneys from the toxicological influence of morphine and street heroin. HPLC analysis showed that mBME contained bacoside-A major components i.e. bacoside-A3 (37.5 μg/mg), bacopaside-II (4.62 μg/mg) and bacopasaponin-C (1.91 μg/mg). The EC50 for the DPPH free radical scavenging assay revealed that mBME possessed strong antioxidant potential. These results concluded that as compared to morphine, street heroin was associated with severe biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver and kidneys. Bacopa monnieri having strong antioxidant potential may provide a beneficial herbal remedy for the efficient management of opioid related hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar 25000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fazal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Subhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Swabi, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Gowhar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Javaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rehmat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Biochemical pharmacology; Environmental toxicology; Pharmacotherapy; Substance management; Systemic pharmacology; Toxicology