title: Anxiolytic activity of aerial and underground parts of Passiflora incarnata.
abstract: The petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and water extracts of Passiflora incarnata whole plant and sorted out plant parts have been evaluated for their anxiolytic activity using the elevated plus-maze model in mice. The methanol extracts of leaves, stems, flowers, and whole plant exhibited anxiolytic effects at 100, 125, 200 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. The roots were practically devoid of anxiolytic effects. These results show that roots and flowers of P. incarnata act as natural adulterants by causing a significant increase in the anxiolytic dose. Therefore, separation of these parts is recommended prior to any pharmacological, phytochemical and standardization studies on P. incarnata.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India. kdd@glide.net.in
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D029598:Passiflora; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018514:Plant Structures; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts