Comparative pathological study of Matricaria chamomilla and Methadone effects on liver of morphine dependent rats

Abstract

Addiction to opiates such as morphine is one of the major world health problems. Some reports show that Matricaria chamomilla extract contains flavonoids, which exert Benzodiazepine-like activity and inhibited the expression of abstinence syndrome in morphine-dependent animals. Objective: To determined and comparison the effect of Matricaria chamomilla extract injection on morphine withdrawal syndrome signs (MWS) in rats and pathological study of Mc and Methadone on liver of Morphine dependent Rats. Materials and Methods: 32 male rats (200-300gr) (n=8) were tested in 4 groups: saline group which was received only saline, Morphine group which was received only Morphine (10mg/kg) for 10 days, Mc group were received Mc extract (20mg/kg I.P) 30 min before Morphine administration and Methadone group. In the end of training day all groups received naloxane (5mg/kg I.P) 3hours after last injection of morphine and then the frequencies of withdrawal behavior were assessed for 30min with use of Open field test and liver pathological condition has been studied. Results: Our results show that I.P administration of MC extract dose dependently attenuates most of morphine withdrawal syndrome and no finding any liver lesion in Mc group, but Methadone has many serious pathological effects on liver, some of them potentially fatal. Conclusion: These result suggested that injection of MC extract in to the I.P is helpful for morphine withdrawal syndrome treatment and is safer than Methadone therapy.