Interaction of Sambucus nigra flower and berry decoctions with the actions of centrally acting drugs in rats

Abstract

The effect of flower and berry decoctions of Sambucus nigra on the hypnotic action of phenobarbitone (30 mg/ml) and the analgesic action of morphine (5 mg/ml) in rats is described. Wistar laboratory rats received 2 ml/kg of either flower (1 : 10) or berry decoction (1 : 10) orally 2 h before and simultaneously with the investigated drugs injected subcutaneously. The hypnotic action of pentobarbitone in the animals as the onset of loss of righting reflex (sleep induction time) was assessed as the time interval between the loss and regaining of righting reflex (sleeping time). The analgesic action of morphine was measured as the reaction time to radiation heat directed onto the rat tail. Both decoctions caused a significant decrease of the sleep induction time of pentobarbitone, and increased sleeping time, compared with control (only pentobarbitone). Berry decoctions significantly decreased the analgesic action of morphine.