Calocybe indicia extract modifies GABA and Serotonin levels to Alleviate anxiety in experimental adult Zebrafish models

Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as a model to study anxiety due to its physiological homology to humans. The pathophysiology of anxiety, even though still unclear, has been extensively studied in Zebrafish. Anxiety was induced by withdrawal after exposure to 0.5% ethanol, which proved to be anxiogenic, validated through the novel tank test. The light/dark test revealed that exposure to 0.5% ethanol had anxiolytic effects. The milky mushroom, Calocybe indica was used to treat anxiety since its anti-hypertensive effects have already been reported. Biochemical parameters such as GABA and MAO (A&B) were measured before and after treatment with different concentrations of C. indica and standard anxiolytic drug, Fluoxetine to compare and confirm the anxiolytic effect. The GABA content was found to be 119.9±1.99 mmoles/g tissue weight after treatment with 50 µg C. indica which was comparable to the normal group values (100±4.12). MAO (A&B) activity decreased which in turn increased serotonin levels with 25µg of C. indica. 25µg and 100µg concentration of the extract of C. indica was found to be optimum in reducing the level of anxiety.