Effect of Afghan Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Aqueous Extract on Withdrawal Signs in Morphine-Dependent Rats

Introduction: Opioid dependency, as a global problem is accompanied with serious personal, economic, social and hygienic disorders. Synthetic drugs beside their efficacies, have numerous adverse effects. As the medicinal plants have low costs and adverse effects, and they are also affective on different stages of dependency treatment, they attracted the attention of the researchers in the field of medicine. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Afghan saffron on the withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats. Methods: Rats divided into 5 groups (1 Normal Saline, 1 Morphine, and 3 Extract groups). The rats that received morphine and extract became morphine-dependent by subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of morphine hydrochloride for 7 days (2.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/kg doses twice daily on 1st to 6th days respectively, and a single dose of 50 mg/kg on 7th day). The extract groups received 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg doses of the saffron aqueous extract by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration simultaneously with morphine. Two hours after the administration of the last dose of morphine, Naloxone (3 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected and withdrawal signs were noted for 30 minutes. Results: The results showed that the administration of the saffron aqueous extract (100, 150 and 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased most of the withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats (P<0.05). Conclusion: Afghan saffron aqueous extract can alleviate the withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats.