Anxiolytic Effect of Polyherbal Extracts on Rodents

Background: Anxiety, unlike other psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia or depression, is both an emotional and a psychiatric disorder. It commonly co-exists with other clinical conditions but can be diagnosed on the basis of symptoms and course of the disease.

Objective: To study the anxiolytic activity of polyherbal extract and to estimate the biogenic amines.

Materials and Methods: The anxiolytic effect of polyherbal extracts containing Leptadenia reticulata ischolar_mains (Asclepiadaceae), Mimusops elengi bark (Sapotaceae) and Evolvulus alsinoides Whole plant (Convolvulaceae) were studied in rodents. Different animal models like elevated plus maze, stair case, and mirrored chamber were used for assessing the anxiolytic property of the polyherbal extracts.

Results: The results revealed that ethanolic and acetone extract at the dose of 200mg/kg significantly produced anxiolytic action, in a same way to that of diazepam (2mg/kg, p.o) standard drug, along with significant entries responses in all the above experimental models used. Polyherbal extracts showed significant (p<0.001) decreases in serotonin and norepinephrine in the whole brain of rat. The dopamine level was significantly (p<0.001) increased by the extracts. The extracts might potentially act by increased GABAnergic activation and/or by modulating the serotoninergic levels in the central nervous system.

Conclusion: Traditional system of medicine using herbs in neuro disorders exhibit potent anxiolytic action in the above study.