Berberine and Tolerance

[Paregoric Kid]

Inhibitory effects of berberine against morphine-induced locomotor sensitization

JH Yoo (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Yoo&initials=JH), EM Yang (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Yang&initials=EM), JH Cho (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Cho&initials=JH), JH Lee (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Lee&initials=JH), SM Jeong (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Jeong&initials=SM), SY Nah (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Nah&initials=SY), HC Kim (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Kim&initials=HC), KW Kim (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Kim&initials=KW), SH Kim (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Kim&initials=SH), SY Lee (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Lee&initials=SY), CG Jang (http://www.ionchannels.org/showcitationlist.php?surname=Jang&initials=CG)
Neuroscience (2006) 0: .

We previously reported that a methanolic extract of Coptis japonica, which is a well-known traditional oriental medicine, inhibits morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice. Berberine is a major component of Coptis japonica extract, and it has been established that the adverse effects of morphine on the brain involve dopamine (DA) receptors. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated the inhibitory effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance in mice. Here, we investigated the effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and on the development of analgesic tolerance. Furthermore, we examined the effects of berberine treatment on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Berberine was found to completely block both morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance, and reduce D(1) and NMDA receptor bindings in the cortex. Moreover, berberine markedly inhibited NMDA current in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing NMDA receptor subunits. Our results suggest that the inhibitory effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance are closely related to the modulation of D1 and NMDA receptors, and that berberine should be viewed as a potential novel means of attenuating morphine-induced sensitization and analgesic tolerance.

[jacky]

nice find PK.

this compound is easily sourced...both in isolate form and in different herb products.
its not that expensive either.

[hovadagod]

Could this be what they are spiking that Chinese "herbal" shit with?

Did you read the full study PK? I think it is expensive, no?

[EleusisII]

But does it work?

[Paregoric Kid]

don't know. I've been taking goldenseal, which contains berberine, quite a bit this week because of a cold.

[imalgen]

90% Berberine is under $5/g.
Very cheap to start researching, however i have always passed it up for some reason or another. Maybe i wont next time, hopefully that will be sooner than later.

[existential_apathy]

I picked up a bottle of goldenseal and I'll give it a shot. It'll be hard to see if it works though. I use pod tea and it's so variable that it's hard to know if any damn thing works at all. But 100 caps for $8 is cheap enough. Can't hurt.