The Effect of Hwangryunhaedok-tang and its Major Component Coptidis Rhizoma, Berberine on Nicotine Addiction in Rats

황련해독탕(黃連解毒湯)과 그 주성분인 황련(黃連) 및 황련(黃連)의 주성분인 berberine이 니코틴 중독 흰쥐에 미치는 영향

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Hwangryunhaedok-tang, its major component Coptidis Rhizoma, and the major component of Coptidis Rhizoma, berberine, on the expression of behavioral sensitization induced by the repeated administration of nicotine. Methods: Experimental ratswere divided into 3 groups and each group treated with saline, nicotine, and Hwangryunhaedok-tang. Experiments were performed on 4 further groups, each group treated with saline, nicotine, Coptidis Rhizoma, and berberine. To obtain rats addicted todrugs, nicotine was injected repeatedly. After 3 days of withdrawal phase, on the 11th day, rats were re-exposed to nicotine and thus able to induce the expression of the activity sensitization phenomenon successfully. To examine the change of c-Fos in the brain of experimental rats with the nicotine-induced activity sensitization, their neurological activation rate was assessed by c-Fos staining with Fos-like immunihistochemistry of the dopamine releasing area, the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. Results: The result demonstrate that Hwangryunhaedok-tang, its major component Coptidis Rhizoma and berberine,the major component of Coptidis Rhizoma, significantly reduced the walking activity rate in the drug addict models induced by nicotine administration, and Coptidis Rhizoma and its major component berberine reduce the marker of the neurological activation c-Fos, and thus revealed an effect of suppressing drug addiction. Conclusions: These results suggest the possibility of Hwangryunhaedok-tang, its major component Coptidis Rhizoma and the major component of Coptidis Rhizoma, berberine,as therapeutic for nicotine addiction.