Evaluation of Anti-Anxiety Activity of Alcoholic Extract of Cyndon dactylon Linn. in Experimental Animal Models

The present paper deals with evaluation of anti-anxiety activity of extract of Cyndon dactylon linn (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg P.O) on male mice using various paradigms of anxiety Cynodon dactylon commonly known as Durva is considered as a sacred herb by the Hindus and is used in religious rites. It is widely used by the people of India as a traditional medicine for diarrhea, dysentery, catarrhal opthalmia, dropsy, etc. Despite a long tradition of use, systematic phytochemical and pharmacological work has been carried out on this potential plant. Extraction was carried out with soxhlet apparatus using different solvent. Phytochemical screening showed presence alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates, fixed oils, glycosides, flavanoids in methanolic extract of Cyndon dactylon linn thus, these constituents might be responsible for anxiolytic potential and was subjected to preliminary anti-anxiety screening studies, with a view to ascertain the verity of its traditional use as an anxiolytic.. The anti-anxiety activity was done by using elevated plus maze test, open field test, rotarod test, despair swim test, locomotar activity in rats,and then compared with the standard drug and control. In elevated plus maze, extract ( 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) had shown a dosedependent increase in time spent and number of entries into open arm compared to control group. The number of central squares, peripheral squares crossed and rearings were stepped up significantly in open field paradigm. The treated groups had shown accession in time spent in light compartment, number of crossings, latency compared to control group in light dark exploration test.The alcoholic extract of Cyndon dactylon possesses significant facilitation of anti-anxiety without affecting motor coordination.