Anxiolytic effects of thymoquinone in the rats exposed to MDMA

Nasir, Mohamad and Nor Hidayah, Abu Bakar and Vidya, Bhagat (2019) Anxiolytic effects of thymoquinone in the rats exposed to MDMA. International Medical Journal, 24 (3). p. 13. ISSN 13412051

Text FH02-FP-20-36753.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (328kB)

Abstract

Ecstasy 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA is a psychostimulant drug capable of inducing psychiatric disorders in animals and humans. MDMA produces short-term pleasure effects but prompts to neuropsychiatric problems in the long-term, such as anxiety. The purpose of this study was to examine the anxiolytic potential of a natural compound known as thymoquinone (TQ) in rats that were stimulated to anxiety by MDMA. The administration of TQ into MDMA-induced 5-HT depletion rats was carried out in male Sprague Dawley via 1-week treatment dividing into four groups. The administration of TQ into MDMA-induced 5-HT depletion rats was carried out in male Sprague Dawley via a1-week treatment dividing into four groups. The studied groups involved with the treatments comprise i) Control (1 mL/kg saline), ii) MDMA (20 mg/kg MDMA), iii) MDMA-TQ (20 mg/kg MDMA + 40 mg/kg TQ) and iv) TQ (40 mg/kg TQ). Anxiety test is subject to a light-dark test and social interaction test. Our results demonstrated an increase in anxiety behaviour in the MDMA group as compared to the control group. TQ prevented anxiety after undergoing a 1-week treatment in the MDMA+TQ group as compared to the untreated MDMA group. Hence, this study proposed that TQ could protect against anxiety-like behaviour upon MDMA exposure in rats.

Actions (login required)

View Item