EFFECTS OF GINSENG TOTAL SAPONIN ON COCAINE-INDUCED HYPERACTIVITY ANDCONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE IN MICE

Cocaine produced hyperactivity and conditioned place preference (CPP) following a single or repeated administration. A single or repeated ad ministration of ginseng total saponin (GTS) (100 and 200 mg/kg) inhibi ted not only cocaine-induced (15 mg/kg) hyperactivity but also CPP in mice. These results suggest that GTS attenuates cocaine-induced CPP by inhibiting the same neurochemical system that mediates cocaine-induce d hyperactivity. A single-dose administration of GTS inhibited both co caine-induced hyperactivity and the apomorphine-induced (2 mg/kg) clim bing behavior, suggesting that GTS inhibits cocaine- or apomorphine-in duced dopaminergic activity at the postsynaptic DA receptor. Repeated administration of GTS before and during the treatment of cocaine inhib its the development of postsynaptic DA receptor supersensitivity. Thes e results suggest that chronic treatment with GTS might modulate cocai ne-induced dysfunction at both the pre- and postsynaptic DA receptors; We conclude that GTS may be useful in the prevention and therapy of t he adverse action of cocaine.