Vol. 7, Issue 5 (2018)

Author(s):
Idris Masaud Aliyu, Suleiman Danladi, Umar Idris Ibrahim, Mohammed Alkassim Hassan, Mohd Adzim Khalili Rohin and Nasir Mohamad

Abstract:
Opioids are ethical drugs yet one of the most abused on a global scale. They are used as analgesics in the management of moderate to severe pain especially those associated with chronic and terminal diseases. Although this class of drug presents fewer side effects, the most worrisome are tolerance, dependence and addiction. The pharmacological management strategies of opiate addiction require oral administration of long-acting opioid receptor agonists or partial agonists and opioid antagonists. However, these measures present marked demerits that include withdrawal symptoms, dependence, relapse of opiate abuse and in some instances unfavourable pharmacokinetic profile of the drugs. Pomegranate fruits are enriched with antioxidant polyphenols that modulate addiction pathways and neurotransmitters. These polyphenols have the tendency to antagonize or block opioid-induced tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. This review article highlights the potential of pomegranate antioxidant-rich compounds in ameliorating opiate addiction. Furthermore, studies that show potential for synergism between the conventional opioid agonists and antagonists in the pharmacotherapy of opiate addiction are also explored.