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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 3 | Page : 187-188 |
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Potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone on treatment of amphetamine abuse
Nurul Farah Aina Md Fauzi1, Nor Hidayah Abu Bakar1, Nasir Mohamad2, Khairi Che Mat1, Syed Hadzrullathfi Syed Omar3, Mohd Shahril Othman4, Rohayah Husain1, Muhamad Zaid Ismail4
1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Medical Campus, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman; Centre for Research in Addiction, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Medical Campus, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman; Institute for Community Development & Quality of Life (iCODE), University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman; Centre for Research in Addiction, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
3 Faculty of Contemporary Islamic Studies, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman; Institute for Product Research and Civilization (INSPIRE), University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman; Centre for Research in Addiction, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
4 Faculty of Contemporary Islamic Studies, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman; Centre for Research in Addiction, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
| Date of Submission | 02-Nov-2017 |
| Date of Decision | 04-Dec-2017 |
| Date of Acceptance | 22-Dec-2017 |
| Date of Web Publication | 21-Mar-2018 |
Correspondence Address:
Nor Hidayah Abu Bakar
Faculty of Medicine, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Medical Campus, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Darul Iman
Malaysia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/2221-1691.228001
How to cite this article:
Md Fauzi NF, Bakar NH, Mohamad N, Mat KC, Omar SH, Othman MS, Husain R, Ismail MZ. Potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone on treatment of amphetamine abuse. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2018;8:187-8 |
How to cite this URL:
Md Fauzi NF, Bakar NH, Mohamad N, Mat KC, Omar SH, Othman MS, Husain R, Ismail MZ. Potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone on treatment of amphetamine abuse. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed [serial online] 2018 [cited 2023 Jun 5];8:187-8. Available from: https://www.apjtb.org/text.asp?2018/8/3/187/228001 |
Foundation project: This work is supported by UniSZA/NRGS/2013 (RR057-1) grant from Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education.
Dear Editor,
The prevalence of drug abuse has diverted from traditional drugs such as opioid and cannabis to modern, synthetic and psychoactive drugs such as amphetamine groups, the amphetamine (AT) and methamphetamine[1]. Amphetamine is used medically to treat several disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, depression and minor obesity[2]. However, AT has also gained its popularity as a recreational drug due to its psychostimulant effects. Parallel to that, illegal AT is increasingly manufactured by adding and mixing different drugs, binding agents and new psychoactive substances[3].
Amphetamine-like stimulants (predominantly AT and methamphetamine) are new trend among the youths and became the second most common forms of illicit substance abuse[4]. According to World Drug Report (2016), the global seizures of AT fluctuated annually between 20 and 46 tons since 2009. The number of amphetamines users was also showing an increasing trend from 33.9 million in 2015 to 35.7 million in 2016[5].
Amphetamine drug induces neurotoxicity through several mechanisms, with its predominant action on dopamine system causing dysfunction[6]. Overdose and uncontrollable consumption of AT will lead to addiction and unwanted psychological effects such as psychosis and anxiety[7],[8]. Since early 1980, several studies were conducted to observe the effects of AT on behaviour, biochemical changes and neurotoxicity in order to explore potential treatments for AT abusers. But still, there is no substitute drugs or specific treatment for AT abusers as compared to the methadone substitute for opioid abusers which is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms and addiction[9],[10],[11].
In this current era, many natural compounds are explored for their therapeutic effects in healing various diseases instead of chemical drugs[12]. These include thymoquinone (TQ), the bioactive compound found in Nigella sativa plant. It shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer as well as neuroprotective properties[13],[14]. Previous studies highlighted TQ to have a great therapeutic potential in inhibiting the development of tramadol (an opioid drug) tolerance and dependence[15]. In another study, El- Shamy et al. (2013) reported that TQ has the potential to reduce monoamine neurotransmitter in the cortex and hippocampus of rats after treatment with nicotine[16]. A study also reported that Nigella sativa possesses the ability to modulate neurotransmitters release and reuptake such as dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and acetylcholine and gives a positive effect on reduction of drug tolerance[17].
To date, a recent study from El-Naggar et al. reported that methanol extraction from Nigella sativa can modify amino acid neurotransmitter level in rat brain region which can be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease[18]. Other study also mentioned that TQ has a potential to upregulate gene expression involved in morphine addiction pathways[19].
As a conclusion, we proposed that TQ might be a good candidate for the treatment of AT abuse through its interaction with dopamine neurotransmitter. Thus, further molecular studies are worth to be explored to prove its therapeutic effects in the treatment of AT abuse.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declared that no conflict of interests based on this study.
Acknowledgements
This project is supported by UniSZA/NRGS/2013 (RR057-1) grant from Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education.
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| 16. | El-Shamy AK, Khadrawy AY, El-Feki AM, Refaat HI, Sawie GH. The Effect of both vitamin E and thymoquinone on monoamine neurotransmitter changes induced by nicotine treatment and withdrawal in the cortex and hippocampus of rat brain. J Appl Sci Res 2013; 9(6): 4030-4040. |
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| 19. | Adnan LHM, Mohamad N, Mat KC, Yeo CC, Bakar NHA, Ismail R. Thymoquinone regulates gene expression levels in morphine addiction pathways in opioid receptor expressing cells (U87 MG). Electron J Biol 2017; 13(2): 166-173. |
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