Morphine is the most effective medication to relieve
pain, antinociception and withdrawal syndrome, but clinical application of these compounds is greatly affected by the occurrence of addiction. The aim of this research was the influence of SE and
curzerene (Cur) on withdrawal syndrome signs in mice contrasted with
clonidine. Extraction of the S. cordifolium extract (SE) was done by the Soxhlet method. Addiction was produced using the
subcutaneous injections of
morphine for 7 days. To estimate the influences of SE and Cur, the 64 male mice were separated into eight of 8. Sets 1, 2 and 3 were treated SE (100,200,300 mg/kg). Sets 4, 5 and 6 were treated Cur (0.03, 0.06, 0.12mg/kg). The findings showed that
curzerene was the most important effective component S. cordifolium extract.
Curzerene and SE reduced the mean of
weight loss,
diarrhea, and wet dog shakes in
morphine-dependent mice in comparison with
clonidine. All doses of
Curzerene and SE extract reduced the locomotor activity and
body weight loss when compared to the control group in
morphine-dependent mice but not to
clonidine compared. The SE (100mg/kg) and Cur (0.03mg/kg) are reduced signs of withdrawal syndrome equally to
clonidine. SE (200 mg/kg) and Cur (0.06 mg/kg), are reduced of the
body weight loss significantly in relation to
clonidine (P<0.05). SE (200 mg/kg) and Cur (0.06 mg/kg), are reduced of
diarrhea significantly in relation to
clonidine (P<0.01). This was while SE (300mg/kg) and cur (0.12mg/kg) had deadly effect.
Curzerene and SE are able to decrease the signs of withdrawal syndrome, which might have a human therapeutic capacity.
Curzerene may be one of the
terpenoids responsible for the effect of the S. cordifolium extract. Nevertheless, more investigations are needed to determine the exact mechanism of the effect of SE and
curzerene.