Methanolic Extract of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) Unripe Fruit Attenuates Ethanol-Induced Conditioned Place Preferences in Mice

Abstract

Phytotherapy is an emerging field successfully utilized to treat various chronic diseases including alcohol dependence. In the present study, we examined the effect of the standardized methanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia Linn. unripe fruit (MMC), on compulsive ethanol-seeking behavior using the mouse conditioned place preference (CPP) test. CPP was established by injections of ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p.) in a 12-day conditioning schedule in mice. The effect of MMC and the reference drug, acamprosate (ACAM), on the reinforcing properties of ethanol in mice was studied by the oral administration of MMC (1, 3, and 5 g/kg) and ACAM (300 mg/kg) 60 min prior to the final CPP test postconditioning. Furthermore, CPPs weakened with repeated testing in the absence of ethanol over the next 12 days (extinction), during which the treatment groups received MMC (1, 3, and 5 g/kg, p.o.) or ACAM (300 mg/kg, p.o.). Finally, a priming injection of a low dose of ethanol (0.4 g/kg, i.p.) in the home cage (Reinstatement) was sufficient to reinstate CPPs, an effect that was challenged by the administration of MMC or ACAM. MMC (3 and 5 g/kg, p.o.) and ACAM (300 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reversed the establishment of ethanol-induced CPPs and effectively facilitated the extinction of ethanol CPP. In light of these findings, it has been suggested that M. citrifolia unripe fruit could be utilized for novel drug development to combat alcohol dependence.

Investigation of the impact of antiparasitic drug moxidectin on the rewarding effects of alcohol

“…Hence, moxidectin may reduce alcohol-linked CPP via the NMDA receptor. These results are similar to those published in several studies, which found ethanol-induced CPP with NMDA receptor antagonists on average (Biała and Kotlińska 1999;Aguilar et al 2009;Khan and Pandy 2016).…”

One Plant, Many Uses: A Review of the Pharmacological Applications of Morinda citrifolia

“…Most of them evaluated rats or mice behavior in conditioned place preference tests, induced by the administration of drugs such as alcohol and heroin. In both cases, it was demonstrated that the administration of the methanolic extract of M. citrifolia fruits decreased the effects of heroin and alcohol dependence (Khan and Pandy, ; Narasingam et al , , Pandy and Khan, ).…”

A comprehensive review on potential pharmacological activities of Morinda citrifolia Linn. for the treatment of central nervous system disorders

“…and ACAM (300mg/kg,p.o.) had no considerable influence on the reinstatement caused by ethanol priming injection.Our new findings show that MMC has an antidopaminergic activity in both invivo and evivo investigations.Therefore we postulate that MMC influences the expression and facilitation of extinction of ethanol induced CPPSare due to its antidopaminergic activity.Due to presence of scopoletin and rutin as phytochemical constituents in noni, responsible for many pharmacological activities and antidopaminergic activity.The forgoing study concludes that MMC attenuated expression and accelerated the extinction of ethanol induced CPP in mice 3 .…”

“…One of the most single powerful sources of CNS disorders is depression 2 .Conventional drugs such as antidepressants, antianxiety, antipsychotics shows minimal effect and have adverse effects such as extra pyramidal effects. In modern medicine, phytotherapy research is an integral part for the discovery and discovery of novel drugs 3 .…”