Influence of gossypin on the development of acute tolerance to morphine induced antinociception.

ABSTRACT

Gossypin, a flavonoid is known to induce opioid mediated anti nociceptive response in experimental models. Unlike morphine, tolerance to and dependence on gossypin does not develop and it is known to attenuate the withdrawal signs induced in morphine dependent animals. In this study, the influence of gossypin on the development of acute tolerance to morphine was investigated using acetic acid induced writhing assay procedure in mice. Gossypin pre-treatment significantly attenuated the acute tolerance development to morphine induce antinociceptive response. All these evidences suggest that the therapeutic potential of gossypin as a substitute to morphine.