title: Anxiolytic-like effects of alverine citrate in experimental mouse models of anxiety.
abstract: Anxiety disorders are widely spread psychiatric illnesses that are a cause of major concern. Despite a consistent increase in anxiolytics, the prevalence of anxiety is static; this necessitates the development of new compounds with potential activity and minimum unwanted effects. A serotonergic (5HT) system plays an important role in pathogenesis of anxiety and predominantly involves 5HT1A receptor action in mediating anxiety-like behavior; the antagonism of 5HT1A receptor has demonstrated to produce anxiolytic-like effects. Alverine citrate (AVC) is reported as a 5HT1A antagonist; however, its effects on anxiety-like behavior are not investigated. Thus, the present study, by utilizing a neurobehavioral approach, examined the anxiolytic-like effects of AVC in experimental mouse models of anxiety. Mice were acutely treated with AVC (5-20mg/kg, i.p.)/diazepam (DIA, 2mg/kg, i.p.) and subjected to four validated anxiety models viz. elevated plus-maze (EPM), light/dark (L/D), hole-board (HB) and marble burying (MB) tests. AVC (15-20mg/kg) and DIA significantly increased open arm activity in EPM, exploration in light chamber in L/D test, exploratory behavior in HB and reduced MB behavior in marble burying test. AVC (5mg/kg) had no effect on all behavioral tests, while AVC (10mg/kg) produced partial effects. It revealed anxiolytic-like effects of AVC. Furthermore, anxiolytic-like effects of AVC at higher doses (15-20mg/kg) were more pronounced than lower doses (10mg/kg) and were quite similar to the standard drug DIA. The present finding demonstrates, for the first time, the anxiolytic-like effects of AVC, which may be an alternative approach for management of anxiety-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani 333031, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address: deepaligupta2010@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Deepali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani 333031, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address: rmaheshbits@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani 333031, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address: yashkurhe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yeshwant
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurhe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011437:Propylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011437:Propylamines; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; C010846:alverine; D003975:Diazepam
keywords: 5HT(1A) antagonist; Alverine citrate; Anxiolytic-like effects; Elevated-plus maze; Hole-board; Marble burying test