title: Effect of Withania somnifera Dunal in ethanol-induced anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats.
abstract: Withania somnifera (WS) or its psychotropic preparation is known to play a critical role in morphine, alcohol and benzodiazepines addiction. This study investigates the role of WS in acute ethanol and withdrawal from chronic ethanol consumption using elevated plus maze paradigm in rats. Acute administration of ethanol (1.5-2 g/kg, ip) triggered anxiolytic effect and withdrawal from prolonged ethanol (9% v/v ethanol, 15 days) consumption elicited enhanced behavioral despair (anxiety). Acute administration of WS (50 mg/kg, oral) potentiated the anxiolytic action of subeffective dose of ethanol (0.5 or 1 g/kg, ip). Moreover, the ethanol withdrawal anxiety was markedly antagonized in dose dependent manner by WS at 200 and 500 mg/kg or higher dose of ethanol (2.5 g/kg). However, co-administration of subeffective doses of WS (50 mg/kg, oral) and ethanol also attenuated withdrawal-induced anxiety due to chronic ethanol (9% v/v ethanol, 15 days) consumption. The results suggest the protective effect of WS in the management of ethanol withdrawal reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, B. N. College of Pharmacy, Udaipur 313 002, India.
authors.forename: Girdhari Lal
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Avtar Chand
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rana
mesh_terms: D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D032341:Withania
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts