title: Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders.
abstract: Ocimumn sanctum, an Indian medicinal plant, has been on trial for its role in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in hospital based clinical set-up. Hamilton's brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and thorough clinical investigations were used to screen the subjects. Thirty-five subjects (21 male and 14 female; average age 38.4 years) were medicated with the plant extract in a fixed dose regime (500 mg/capsule, twice daily, p.o. after meal). They were thoroughly investigated clinically and using standard questionnaires based on different psychological rating scale at baseline (day 0), mid-term (day 30) and final (day 60). The observations exhibited that, O. sanctum significantly (p<0.001) attenuated generalized anxiety disorders and also attenuated its correlated stress and depression. It further significantly (p<0.001) improved the willingness to adjustment and attention in human. Therefore, it may be concluded that O. sanctum may be useful in the treatment of GAD in human and may be a promising anxiolytic agent in near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Dr. B.C. Roy Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244B, Acharya J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata 700020, India. surtapas_2007@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sur
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Debnath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031339:Ocimum; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts