title: Evaluation of anxiolytic effect of Medicago sativa in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medicago sativa Linn. (Leguminosae) has a long tradition of use as an Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medicine in a variety of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Traditionally, M. sativa is used to improve the memory, as a rejuvenator, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and in CNS disorders. Despite a long tradition of use, no systematic phytochemical and pharmacological work has been carried out on this potential plant. M. sativa was subjected to preliminary anti-anxiety screening studies, with a view to ascertain the verity of its traditional use as an anxiolytic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Various extracts, viz., petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extract from the aerial parts of M. sativa was subjected to preliminary anti-anxiety screening studies, with a view to ascertain the truth on evidence of its traditional use as an anxiolytic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aerial parts of the plant were extracted using solvents in order of increasing polarity, viz., petroleum ether (60-80 °C), chloroform, methanol and distilled water. All the crude extracts were evaluated for anti-anxiety activity in mice using elevated plus-maze apparatus. Diazepam was used as the standard drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all extracts, only the methanol extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) anti-anxiety activity by increasing the average time spent, and number of entries in open arms at a dose of 100 mg/kg in mice with respect to the vehicle treated control as well as the standard (2 mg/kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that administration of M. sativa exerts anxiolytic effect on mice, and it could serve as a new approach for the treatment of anxiety.
authors.affiliation: LR Institute of Pharmacy, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kundan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh Bora
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000455:Medicago sativa; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts