EVALUATION OF ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MUEHLENBECKIA PLATYCLADA IN MICE: A PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Ancy P.*, Padmaja V., R. Rajkumar, Shiji Kumar P. S. and Nithin Manohar R.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the anxiolytic effect of Muehlenbeckia platyclada ethanolicextract (MBEE) in mice and to compare the antianxiety activity against standard drug diazepam (2 mg/kg). Materials and Methods: After obtaining Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval, Swiss albino mice (18–25 g) of either sex were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. The control group, test group, and standard drugs group received saline, MBEE extract (100, and 200 mg/kg), diazepam (3 mg/kg), respectively, by oral feeding. The antianxiety effect was assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice. Results: In EPM, it implied that MBEE at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.001) increases the number of entries in open arms compared to control. The time spent in open arms also increased in all the doses of CS extract significantly. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates statistically significant dose-dependent antianxiety activity of Muehlenbeckia platyclada ethanolic extract (MBEE)

Keywords: Antianxiety effect, Muehlenbeckia platyclada, Diazepam, Elevated plus maze, flavonoids.