Evaluation Of Anti Anxiety Activity of Methanol Extract of Aegle Marmelos (Bael Fruit Tree) Leaves in Rats

Abstract

Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders, characterised by changes in mood, behaviour, somatic function, and cognition. Benzodiazepines and SSRIs are most commonly employed drugs for the treatment of anxiety. Synthetic drugs available for treatment of anxiety have various adverse effects. Drugs obtained from natural sources are known to cause fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs despite of same ability to cure disease. Methanol extract of Aegle marmelos (AM, 70mg/kg, 140mg/kg and 210mg/kg), 2% of gum acacia, diazepam 2mg/kg are administered orally to randomly divided albino rats of either sex. Anxiolytic activity is assessed by Elevated plus maze (EPM) and Actophotometer (locomotor activity) models. In EPM and Actophotometer models unpaired t test was used to assess anxiolytic activity between groups. In EPM total number of entries and time spent on open arm are increased in AM and standard compared to control. AM (210mg/kg) has shown significant increase in open arm entries (p<0.03) and time spent in open arm compared to standard. AM (210 mg/kg) has shown statistically significant decrease in locomotor activity (p<0.01) compared to standard in actophotometer model. Other doses of AM (70mg/kg, 140mg/kg) have shown significant difference compared to control but not statistically significant with standard in both models. Conclusion: Methanolic extract of Aegle marmelos showed significant anxiolytic activity at higher doses (210mg/kg).