The antianxiety activity of aqueous extract of Withania coagulans fruits in swiss albino mice by elevated plus maze

Abstract

Background: Several anti-anxiety drugs used today have the numerous side effects. The Withania coagulans a rare species, is not studied much for its actions on anxiety except in late seventies where it was explored for neuropsychopharmacology. Thus, it was thought commendable to explore the anti-anxiety activities of aqueous extract of Withania coagulans fruits in swiss albino mice using elevated plus maze test.Methods: Elevated plus maze (EPM) test was used for evaluating the anti-anxiety action of Withania coagulans fruits’ aqueous extract. If the extract had anti-anxiety action, then it was expected that the time spent in the open space would increase and that in the closed space would decrease. This increase in time in the open space, if found statistically significant, was considered for antianxiety action.Results: There was statistically highly significant (p value <0.001) association observed between the aqueous extract of Withania coagulans fruits with antianxiety action in the swiss albino mice by elevated plus maze test.Conclusions: The aqueous extract of Withania coagulans fruits did prove the antianxiety effect in the swiss albino mice by elevated plus maze test.