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Panax ginseng blocks morphine-induced thymic apoptosis by lowering plasma corticosterone level
1Pharmacology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Kwang-Ju, Korea.
General Pharmacology
|July 13, 1999
Abstract:
The effects of Panax ginseng on morphine-induced immune suppression were studied. Morphine (20 mg/kg, SC, 4 days) decreased body weight increment rate and caused atrophy of thymus and spleen. These changes were partly reversed by concomitant administration of ginseng total saponin (GTS, 100 mg/kg, oral, 9 days). Morphine elevated the serum corticosterone level and caused the DNA fragmentation of thymocytes. These sequential events were completely blocked by a concomitant administration of GTS. Flow cytometry analysis showed that GTS specifically blocked morphine-induced apoptosis of thymocytes.