title: Influence of Withania somnifera on obsessive compulsive disorder in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the influence of methanolic and aqueous extract of Withania somnifera (W. somnifera) root on the marble-burying behavior of mice a well-accepted model of obsessive compulsive behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were divided in different groups (n = 6). Fluoxetine (5, 10, 15 mg/kg), (10, 25, 50, 100 mg/kg) and methanolic extract W. somnifera (MEWS) (10, 25, 50, 100 mg/kg) were administered i.p. 30 min. prior to the assessment of marble burying behavior and locomotor activity. The control group received vehicle of the extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of aqueous extracts W. somnifera (AEWS) and MEWS (50 mg/kg) successively decreased the marble burying behavior activity without affecting motor activity. This effect of AEWS and MEWS was comparable to standard fluoxetine, ritanserin and parachlorophenylalanine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  W. somnifera extract is effective in treating obsessive compulsive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, R.K.D.F. College of Pharmacy, Bhopal M.P. India.
authors.forename: Bhanu P S
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kaurav
authors.forename: Manish M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wanjari
authors.forename: Amol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandekar
authors.forename: Nagendra Singh
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Upmanyu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D016713:Ritanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D032341:Withania
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016713:Ritanserin