Falcaria vulgaris attenuates morphine toxicity in prefrontal cortex in rats

Abstract

Background Morphine is a major risk factor in the development of functional disorder of several organs. Falcaria vulgaris is a vegetable that contains antioxidant ingredients. Objective This study was designed to evaluate the effects of F. vulgaris against morphine-induced damage to the prefrontal cortex of rats. Materials and methods In this study, 64 Wistar male rats were randomly assigned to eight groups: sham group, morphine group (20 mg/kg once daily in the first 5 days and double per day in the following 5 days; on the 11th to 20th day, 30 mg/kg, doubles each day), F. vulgaris groups (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg), and morphine+F. vulgaris groups (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg). Treatments were administered intraperitoneally daily for 20 days. Ferric reducing/antioxidant power method was applied to determine the total antioxidant capacity. The number of dendritic spines was investigated by Golgi staining. Cresyl violet staining method was used to determine the number of neurons in prefrontal region. Moreover, Griess technique was used to determine serum nitrite oxide level. Results Morphine administration increased significantly nitrite oxide level and total antioxidant capacity and decreased the number of neuronal dendritic spines and neurons compared with the sham group (P Conclusion It seems that F. vulgaris administration improves brain’s prefrontal region injury in rats due to morphine.