Abstract
A novel approach to the treatment of adverse effects of drugs of abuse is one which makes use of natural products. The present study investigated the effect of Rhodiola rosea L. hydroalcoholic extract (RHO) on cocaine-induced hyperactivity and conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice. In a first experiment, mice received RHO (15, 20 or 25 mg/kg, IG), cocaine (25 mg/kg, i.p.) (COC), or a combination of both drugs (COC + RHO15, COC + RHO20, and COC + RHO25), and their locomotor activity was evaluated. In a second experiment, the effects of RHO on the acquisition, expression, and reinstatement of cocaine CPP (induced by drug priming or social defeat stress) were evaluated. RHO alone did not increase activity but potentiated the hyperactivity induced by cocaine. Rhodiola did not induce motivational effects by itself but attenuated the acquisition and expression of cocaine-induced CPP. Moreover, it was found that RHO did not block reinstatement. The results indicate that RHO is effective in reducing the rewarding properties of cocaine but is ineffective in preventing priming or stress-induced cocaine reinstatement. In light of these findings, the benefits of Rhodiola rosea L. as a treatment of cocaine addiction would seem to be limited.
Highlights
Cocaine addiction has become one of the most serious economic and health problems of developed societies, as it affects a great number of individuals [1]
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosea L. hydroalcoholic extract (RHO) on the motor and rewarding effects of cocaine in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm because RHO appears to modulate the levels and activities of biogenic monoamines, such as serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and noradrenaline (NA), in the neural pathways involved in the regulation of addiction [6, 27,28,29]
The results obtained in this study demonstrate that RHO is capable of decreasing the rewarding effects of cocaine, since both acquisition and expression of a cocaine-induced CPP were impaired by RHO, though only with specific doses of this compound
Summary
Cocaine addiction has become one of the most serious economic and health problems of developed societies, as it affects a great number of individuals [1]. Development of effective treatments for cocaine dependence is necessary to reduce its impact upon both individual and society. The positive effects of a Rhodiola rosea L. extract (RHO) in preventing nicotine and morphine withdrawal symptoms and countering the development of dependence on these drugs have recently been demonstrated in animal models [11, 12]. A recent study demonstrated that the acquisition, expression, and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) are blocked by RHO [13]. These results suggest that RHO is capable of reducing craving and vulnerability to relapse and might be an effective natural remedy for the treatment of opioid addiction [13]
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