Evaluation of the effect of Ferula gummosa essential oil on morphine tolerance and dependence in male mice

The opioid system plays a key role in opioid tolerance and dependence. On the other hand, they have shown that the opioid system plays a role in the analgesic effects of Ferula gummosa extract. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of Ferula gummosa essential oil (FGEO) on morphine tolerance and dependence in mice.

In this experimental study, 60 albino mice were divided into 10 groups of 6 as follows: vehicle (10 ml/kg), diazepam (5 mg/kg), and FGEO (40, 20, and 10 mg/kg). To induce morphine tolerance or dependence, it was administrated 3 times for 3 contentious days. In the tolerance phase, drugs were injected intraperitoneally for 30 minutes before morphine administration. In the dependence phase, the drugs were used only on 4th day (test day). The withdrawal signs were recorded for 30-min. The data were analyzed with SPSS 20 software, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests, and Tukey's and Ben Feroni's post hoc tests, respectively.

20 and 40 mg/kg doses of FGEO in the tolerance phase and only the high dose (40 mg/kg) of the essential oil decreased the number of jumps in the dependence phase. (Including diarrhea, writhing, rearing, climbing, wet dog shakes, grooming, and teeth chattering behaviors decreased by FGEO in both phases.

FGEO decreased morphine tolerance and dependence and possibly was useful for the treatment of opioid dependence after complimentary trials.