Isoliquiritigenin Attenuates Anxiety-Like Behavior and Locomotor Sensitization in Rats after Repeated Exposure to Nicotine.

Isoliquiritigenin Attenuates Anxiety-Like Behavior and Locomotor Sensitization in Rats after Repeated Exposure to Nicotine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:9692321 Authors: Wang Y, Kim SC, Wu T, Jiao Y, Jin H, Hyo Lee B, Lee CW, Fan Y, Kim HY, Yang CH, Zhao Z, Zhao R Abstract As important components of positive and negative reinforcement, locomotor sensitization and withdrawal anxiety following repeated exposure to nicotine (NIC) constitute crucial risk factors for relapse to NIC use after abstinence. Glycyrrhiza radix (G. radix), an important tonic used in traditional Oriental medicine, has not only anxiolytic effects but also reduces NIC-induced locomotor sensitization. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a bioactive ingredient of G. radix, also exhibits neuropharmacological effects, including anxiolytic action. Previously, we reported that ISL suppressed cocaine-induced extracellular dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell (NaccSh) and attenuated methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of ISL on both NIC withdrawal anxiety and locomotor sensitization. Adult male rats received subcutaneous administration of NIC hydrogen tartrate (0.4 mg/kg, twice a day) for 7 days followed by 4 days of withdrawal. During the period of NIC withdrawal, the rats received four intragastric treatments with ISL (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/day). All three doses of ISL significantly inhibited NI...
Source: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Tags: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Source Type: research