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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
Levo-tetrahydropalmatine: A new potential medication for methamphetamine addiction and neurotoxicity
Lian Liu1, Ming Liu2, Wei Zhao2
1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China.
Abstract:
Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) is mainly derived from the dried tuber of the Papaveraceae plant Corydalis, also called Corydalis B, which is a drug with analgesic, hypnotic, sedative and other effects. Methamphetamine (METH) belongs to the central nervous stimulant and is a highly addictive drug. It is an urgent problem to study the mechanism of methamphetamine neurotoxicity and to search for the therapeutic targets of the METH addiction. This review is aimed to discuss the pharmacological mechanism and the protective effects of l-THP on METH-induced neurotoxicity, and to explore the therapeutic prospects of l-THP for METH addiction to provide an innovative application of l-THP in clinic. It was found that exposure to METH leads to the compulsive drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior, which is ultimately resulted in METH addiction and neurotoxicity. L-THP has the inhibitory effects on the incidence, maintenance and relapse of METH addiction. L-THP can effectively enhance the plasticity of nerve cells and improve the function of nerve cells where brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its pathways play a protective role. Therefore, l-THP has the potential to become an important therapeutic drug for METH addiction and neurotoxicity.
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