Antinarcotic effects of the velvet antler water extract on morphine in mice

The present study was undertaken to investigate the antinarcotic effects of velvet antler water extract (VAWE) from Cervus elaphus on morphine. Morphine-induced analgesic action was measured by tail-flick method. Morphine-induced hyperactivity and reverse tolerance were evidenced by measuring the enhanced ambulatory activity using a tilting-type ambulometer. Dopamine (DA) receptor supersensitivity in mice displaying morphine-induced reverse tolerance was evidenced by the enhanced response in ambulatory activity to the DA agonist, apomorphine. The repeated administration of VAWE significantly inhibits the development of morphine-induced analgesic tolerance, physical dependence, reverse tolerance and postsynaptic DA receptor supersensitivity. But a single administration of VAWE did neither antagonize morphine-induced analgesia nor inhibit morphine-induced hyperactivity. From the above results, it is presumed that VAWE may be useful for prevention and therapy of the adverse actions of morphine caused by the repeated administration of morphine. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.