title: Anxiolytic activity of methanol leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn in mice using experimental models of anxiety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the anxiolytic activity of methanol extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn (Amaranthaceae).
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Swiss albino mice were used. Methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera (MEAA) was administered in the doses of 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg p.o. Hole board (HB), open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and light/dark exploration (LDE) tests were used for determination of anxiolytic activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera significantly increased the number and duration of head poking in HB test. The extract also significantly increased the time spent and the number of entries in open arm in EPM. In LDE test, the extract produced significant increase in time spent and number of crossings and decreased the duration of immobility in light box. In OFT, the extract showed significant increase in number of rearing, assisted rearing and the squares crossed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, MEAA exhibited anxiolytic activity which might be attributed to its phyto-constituents viz. alkaloid, steroid and triterpenes. Since Achyranthes aspera is ubiquitous and abundantly grown, it could be a fairly economical therapeutic agent for management of anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, India. chanacin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Chandana C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Barua
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talukdar
authors.forename: Shameem Ara
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Prabodh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borah
authors.forename: Mangala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahkar