Reversal of Morphine Tolerance and Dependence by Passiflora incarnata – A Traditional Medicine to Combat Morphine Addiction

Abstract

This paper describes the use of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in reversing the development of dependence and tolerance of morphine in mice. A fraction (BZF) derived from the methanol extract of P. incarnata that had exhibited good anxiolytic activity, delayed the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine when administered at 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg doses along with 10 mg/kg dose of morphine for 9 days. A single dose of P. incarnata bioactive fraction (BZF) also decreased the naloxoneprecipitated withdrawal jumps in mice that had already been rendered tolerant due to chronic treatment with 10mg/kg of morphine.