A study on anxiolytic activity of azadirachta indica leaves in wister albino rats

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders in general population and are associated with significant morbidity, economic and social burden. Presently available pharmacotherapeutic agents have the drawbacks of intolerable side effects or inefficacy on long term use, etc. So the search for a better anxio lytic agent continues. Objectives - To study the anxiolytic activity of aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica leaves in albino rats. - To compare its anxiolytic activity with that of diazepam and buspirone. Methods 30 albino rats of either sex weighing 150-250gms were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 animals each. Animals were assigned as control group receiving 1ml/kg of distilled water, standard group receiving 1mg/kg diazepam, buspirone group receiving 1mg/kg buspirone and two test groups receiving 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica leaves. All the drugs were administered orally 1 hour prior to the test. Anxiolytic activity was tested in elevated-plus maze model and light-dark arena model. Percentage of time spent in open arm/light arena and number of entries into open arm/light arena were the parameters observed for five minutes. ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used for statistical analysis and group wise comparisons of the data. Results Compared to control group, animals in the diazepam group and buspirone group and test drug treated groups showed a statistically significant increase in the in both the parameters in elevated-plus maze model as well as light- dark arena model. Conclusion Results of our study support the findings of the previous studies that the Azadirachta indica leaves extract has the anxiolytic activity at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg. The anxiolytic activity at this dose is comparable to that of 1mg/kg diazepam as well as 1mg/kg buspirone.