The Effect of Thymoquinone on concentration of human mu-opioid receptors mediated by chronic morphine treatment in opioid receptor expressing cell (U87 MG)

Khamsah Suryati, Mohd and Nasir, Mohamad and Nor Hidayah, Abu Bakar and Khairi, Che Mat (2016) The Effect of Thymoquinone on concentration of human mu-opioid receptors mediated by chronic morphine treatment in opioid receptor expressing cell (U87 MG). Acta Bioethica, 22 (2). pp. 1086-1095. ISSN 0717-5906

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Abstract

Morphine and Thymoquinone (TQ) are both opioid receptor stimulating compounds although they have different pharmacological origins. Morphine is a natural opioid derivative whereas TQ is one of the main pharmacologically active compounds from Nigella sativa oils. Recently, a great deal of attention had been focused on the potential roles of TQ in opioid dependence therapy by focusing on mu-opioid receptor, a primary site of action for morphine’s effects. This study was carried out to study the effects of TQ on protein expression of mu-opioid receptors mediated by chronic morphine treatment in opioid receptor expressing cell line (U87 glioblastoma cells). U87 cells was grown in tissue culture flasks with RPMI 1640 medium containing 1 mmol/L L-glutamine, supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 1% (w/v) penicillin/streptomycin. The cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue dye and manually counted using a haemocytometer. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of Morphine and TQ. The protein concentration of human mu-opioid receptor (MOR) level in the cells was determined using the Cusabio® ELISA Kit. Data obtained from this assay indicated that 35 μM morphine and 60.9 μM TQ gives maximum MOR protein concentration. Co-treatment of morphine with TQ and methadone increased the MOR protein concentration (*P < 0.05). These finding suggest that TQ could possibly reduce the tolerance and dependence at cellular level by increasing MOR protein concentration. However, it needs to be further confirmed at molecular level and in-vivo study.

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