EFFECTS OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL (INDIAN GINSENG) ON THE MOTIVATIONAL PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL: PLACE CONDITIONING AND SELF-ADMINISTRATION STUDIES

Recent evidence has shown that Withania somnifera Dunal, a herbal
remedy used for its anti-inflammatory properties, reduces ethanol
withdrawal-induced anxiety, potentiates ethanol-induced anxiolysis
and impairs morphine-elicited place conditioning. Based on these
premises, this study investigated the effects of Withania somnifera
roots extract (WSE) on ethanol-elicited place conditioning and on motivation
for drinking ethanol by self-administration. To this end, in
place conditioning experiments male CD-1 mice underwent backward
(conditioned place preference, CPP) and forward (conditioned place
aversion, CPA) conditioning and the effects of WSE (50 and
100 mg/kg) were evaluated on acquisition and expression of CPP
and CPA. In self-administration experiments male Wistar rats were
trained to self-administer ethanol (10%) by nosepoking and the effects
of WSE (25 and 75 mg/kg) were evaluated on acquisition and maintenance
of ethanol self-administration, on ethanol breakpoint under
a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement, on ethanol deprivation
effect and on reinstatement of seeking behaviours. The results confirm
1) that ethanol is able to elicit both CPP and CPA; 2) that WSE significantly
impairs both the acquisition and the expression of CPP and
CPA; 3) that WSE reduces acquisition, maintenance and breakpoint
of ethanol self-administration as well as the deprivation effect and reinstatement
of ethanol-seeking behaviour. Further studies are
necessary to investigate in detail the mechanism(s) by which WSE interferes
with the motivational properties of ethanol and affects ethanol
taking behaviour; however, these results support the suggestion that
WSE could represent an interesting phytotherapeutic approach for
the treatment of excessive alcohol drinking and to prevent alcohol
relapse.