Effect of Panax ginseng on the Development of Morphine Induced Tolerance and Dependence (VI). On the oral administration of ginseng ether fraction and saponins

The present study was undertaken to determine the inhibitory effects of orally administered ginseng saponins (GS), protopanaxadiol saponins (PD), protopanaxatriol saponins (PT) and ginseng ether fraction (GE) on the development of morphine induced tolerance and physical dependence in mice and also to determine the hepatic glutathione contents. GS, PD and PT inhibited significantly the development of morphine induced tolerance and physical dependence, but GE was effective only on the inhibition of the development of morphine induced physical dependence. GS, PD, PT and GE also inhibited the hepatic glutathione level decrease induced by morphine multiple injections.