Abstract
The present experiments were performed to investigate the effects of the ginseng total saponin on the development of physical dependence on morphine via intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) route. Morphine (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/${mu}ell$/hr) was continuously infused via osmotic minipumps into lateral cerebral ventricle of male Sprague Dawley rats for 7 days. Concurrent ginseng total saponin (100, 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/10${mu}ell$/hr) was infused intraperitoneally (i.p) via osmotic pumps for 7 days. Treatment with ginseng total saponin (200$\mu\textrm{g}$/10${mu}ell$/hr) significantly diminished jumping, teeth chattering, hypothermia and weight loss precipitated by naloxone, compared with those animals received only morphine infusion. These results suggest that ginseng total saponin has central effect on the inhibition of physical dependence on morphine, as systemic ginseng total saponin inhibits the development of physical dependence in rats infused with morphine intracerebroventricularly.
