• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2020

Nicotine, primary component of tobaco produces craving and withdrawal effect both in humans and animals. Nicotine shows a close resemblance to other addictive drugs in molecular, neuroanatomical and pharmacological, particularly the drugs which enhances the cognitive functions. Nicotine mainly shows its action through specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptors located in brain. It stimulates presynaptic acetylcholine receptors thereby enhancing Ach release and metabolism. Dopaminergic system is also stimulated by it, thus increasing the concentration of dopamine in nuclear accumbens. This property of nicotine according to various researchers is responsible for reinforcing behavioral change and dependence of nicotine. Various researchers have also depicted that some non dopaminergic systems are also involved for rewarding effect of nicotinic withdrawal. Neurological systems such as GABAergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic, and brain stem cholinergic may also be involved to mediate the actions of nicotine. Further, the neurobiological pathway to nicotine dependence might perhaps be appropriate to the attachment of nicotine to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, peruse by stimulation of dopaminergic system and activation of general pharmacological changes that might be responsible for nicotine addiction. It is also suggested that MAO A and B both are restrained by nicotine. This enzyme helps in degradation dopamine, which is mainly responsible for nicotinic actions and dependence. Various questions remain uninsurable to nicotine mechanism and require more research. Also, various genetic methods united with modern instrumental analysis might result for more authentic information for nicotine addiction.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.55-67
• /
• 2008

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.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.137-149
• /
• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Radix Scutellariae on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression utilizing Fos-like immuno-histochemistry method in the nucleus accumbens, and the striatum, one of the major projection areas of the control DA system. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into untreated(normal), nicotine-treated (control), Radix Scutellariae-treated(sample) groups, RS group received Radix Scutellariae(100mg/kg, i.p.) 30minutes before injection of nicotine(0.4mg/kg, s.c.) for 7days. Rat were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1day. Results : Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger locomotor activity and expression of c-Fos in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum. Pretreatment with Radix Scutellariae decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the core, shell, straitum area. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by Radix Scutellariae may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release and of postsynaptic neuronal activity in striatum, the nucleus accumbens. Out results show neurochemical evidence for the biological effects of Radix Scutellariae that ultimately may help us to understand how Radix Scutellariae can be used to treat nicotine addiction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.460-466
• /
• 2014

Nicotine addiction is a worldwide problem. However, previous studies characterizing the rewarding and reinforcing effects of nicotine in animal models have reported inconsistent findings. It was observed that the addictive effects are variable on different factors (e.g. route, dose, and age). Here, we evaluated the rewarding and reinforcing effects of nicotine in different routes of administration, across a wide dose range, and in different age groups. Two of the most widely used animal models of drug addiction were employed: the conditioned place preference (CPP) and self-administration (SA) tests. Nicotine CPP was evaluated in different routes [intraperitoneal (i.p.) and subcutaneous (s.c.)], doses (0.05 to 1.0 mg/kg) and age [adolescent and adult rats]. Similarly, intravenous nicotine SA was assessed in different doses (0.01 to 0.06 mg/kg/infusion) and age (adolescent and adult rats). In the CPP test, s.c. nicotine produced greater response than i.p. The 0.2 mg/kg dose produced highest CPP response in adolescent, while 0.6 mg/kg in adult rats; which were also confirmed in 7 days pretreated rats. In the SA test, adolescent rats readily self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine. Doses that produced nicotine CPP and SA induced blood nicotine levels that corresponded well with human smokers. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that nicotine produces reliable CPP [0.2 mg/kg dose (s.c.)] in adolescents and [0.6 mg/kg dose (s.c.)] in adults, and SA [0.03 mg/kg/infusion] in adolescent rats. Both tests indicate that adolescent rats are more sensitive to the rewarding and reinforcing effects of nicotine.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2018

Smokers keep smoking despite knowing that tobacco claims many lives, including their own and others'. What makes it hard for them to quit smoking nonetheless? Tobacco companies insist that smokers choose to smoke, according to their right to self-determination. Moreover, they insist that with motivation and willpower to quit smoking, smokers can easily stop smoking. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to discuss the addictive disease called tobacco use disorder, with an assessment of the addictiveness of tobacco and the reasons why smoking cessation is challenging, based on neuroscientific research. Nicotine that enters the body via smoking is rapidly transmitted to the central nervous system and causes various effects, including an arousal response. The changes in the nicotine receptors in the brain due to continuous smoking lead to addiction symptoms such as tolerance, craving, and withdrawal. Compared with other addictive substances, including alcohol and opioids, tobacco is more likely to cause dependence in smokers, and smokers are less likely to recover from their dependence. Moreover, the thinning of the cerebral cortex and the decrease in cognitive functions that occur with aging accelerate with smoking. Such changes occur in the structure and functions of the brain in proportion to the amount and period of smoking. In particular, abnormalities in the neural circuits that control cognition and decision-making cause loss of the ability to exert self-control and autonomy. This initiates nicotine dependence and the continuation of addictive behaviors. Therefore, smoking is considered to be a behavior that is repeated due to dependence on an addictive substance, nicotine, instead of one's choice by free will.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.756-763
• /
• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that repeated injections of nicotine produced an increase in locomotor activity, dopamine(DA), release and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major projection areas of the central DA system. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. And many studies have shown that Coptidis Rhizoma has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) and can affect the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS. In order to investigate whether acupuncture and Coptidis Rhizoma have an influence on nicotine-induced reinforcing and behavioral effects, we examined the effect of zusanli(ST36) and Coptidis Rhizoma on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity, and zusanli(ST36) on c-Fos expression as an important maker of postsynaptic neuronal activity in nucleus accumbens. Male SD rats received Coptidis Rhizoma (100mg/kg, p.o.) 30 min before injections of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. Rats were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity. Pretreatment with acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release. Our results suggest that acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.18
• /
• pp.7629-7634
• /
• 2014

Background: Cigarette smokers have their own motivation and justification to smoke. For example, smoking reduces their stress or enhances their pleasure. This study aimed to identify the (a) prevalence of cigarette smokers among undergraduates in Malaysia, (b) gender differences in nicotine dependence among current smokers, (c) differences in psychological problems (depression, anxiety and stress) based on the status of smoking cigarettes (current, former and non-smokers) and (d) extent to which precipitating factors (tension reduction, addiction, automatism, handling, social interaction, pleasure, and stimulation) predict the smoking behavior among current smokers. Materials and Methods: In this study 780 undergraduate students participated from a private university in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor state in Malaysia. The Depression, Stress and Anxiety Scale, Modified Reason for Smoking Scale and Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test were used to measure psychological problems, predictors of smoking behavior and nicotine dependency among current smokers. Results: The results showed that 14.7%(n=106) of the students were smokers. Current smokers exhibited more psychological problems (depression, anxiety and stress) compared to former and non-smokers. Addiction, tension reduction, pleasure and automatism were predictors of smoking behavior among the current smoking students. Step wise regression analysis showed that smoking behavior was highly predicted by nicotine dependency or addiction. Smoking students were motivated to smoke cigarettes as they believed that it reduced their tension and enhance pleasure. Conclusions: Hence, there is a need for health promotion and anti-tobacco prevention as cigarette smokers experience more psychological problems. Nicotine dependency or addition was one of the major causes for smoking behavior among the student population in Malaysia.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.65-69
• /
• 2004

Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention has been widely used for treatment for many functional disorders, such as substances abuse and mental dysfunction. In general, acupuncture is known to be simple, economic; painless, non-traumatic, and without untoward reaction, being able to inhibit the abstinence syndrome. Although a number of studies on acupuncture have been reported, a few studies described acupuncture effect on drug addiction. Evidences suggest that substances abuses including nicotine, cocaine and alcohol are in part related to its effects on dopamine neurons in the reward pathways of the brain. The effects of acupuncture on drug addiction may be mediated through the neuronal cells within the limbic structures, which are known to be involved in rewarding properties of drug abuse. This essay reviews clinical and experimental evidences for its effectiveness on the drug addiction, and discusses a plausible explanation for the mechanism of acupuncture on substances abuse.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.580-595
• /
• 2022

This study looked at the relationship between lifestyle choices and various substance addictions in young adults by applying the Relapse Prevention model of addiction. The data was obtained from a cross-sectional questionnaire (Depression and Anxiety Assessment Test) of 926 young adults aged 18~24 from 24 countries. Of these, 17.6% reported that they had a serious substance addiction, with alcohol addiction being the highest (11.2%), followed by nicotine (10.3%) and illicit drug (8.7%) usage. Results of chi-square test and logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between various lifestyle factors (exercise patterns, intake of dietary nutrients like tryptophan, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients, spiritual habits such as Bible reading and prayer) and addiction to various substances (illicit drugs, alcohol and nicotine). Depression was also found to be a significant factor influencing substance addiction. Interestingly, the risk of alcohol abuse was the highest at 9.870 (95% CI: 4.525-21.525) times among those who didn't have the habit of daily Bible reading. The highest risk of nicotine and illicit drug addiction was among those who consumed 'less than 1 serving' of dietary micronutrients per day compared to those who consumed '5 or more servings', with odds ratios of 9.606(95% CI: 2.726-30.111) and 8.642(95% CI: 2.022-37.378), respectively. These findings suggest that holistic lifestyle interventions may help prevent and reduce substance addiction in young adults.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science Conference
• /
• 1997.10a
• /
• pp.13-29
• /
• 1997