title: Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Urtica urens in a mice model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was designed to study anxiolytic property of methanolic extracts of Urtica urens; an important and commonly used for its medicinal properties belongs to urticaceae family.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anxiolytic activity was evaluated with the adult mice by hole board test, and the light-dark box test, and motor coordination with the rota rod test. The efficacy of the plant extract (100-400 mg/kg) was compared with the standard anxiolytic drug diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.)
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract increased the time spent in the brightly-lit chamber of the light/dark box, as well as in the number of times the animal crossed from one compartment to the other. Performance on the rota rod was unaffected. In the hole board test, the extract significantly increased both head-dip counts and head-dip duration. Urtica urens, in contrast to diazepam, had no effect on locomotion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provides support for anxiolytic activity of Urtica urens, in line with its medicinal traditional use, and may also suggest a better side-effect profile of Urtica urens relative to diazepam.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. d.zouhra@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Zouhra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Doukkali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. ktaghzouti@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taghzouti
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Drug Control, Directorate of Medicines and Pharmacy, Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco. bouididae@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: E L Houcine
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bouidida
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. mohamednadj@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadjmouddine
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. y.cherrah@medramo.ac.ma.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cherrah
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. alaouikma@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Katim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alaoui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003624:Darkness; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D012997:Solvents; D027003:Urticaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000432:Methanol