title: Assessment of anxiolytic effect of nerolidol in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was to assess the anxiolytic effect of nerolidol in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anxiolytic activity was examined using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT), and motor coordination by rotarod test. Thirty Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups of six mice each. Group 1 received vehicle control (normal saline); Group 2 received diazepam (1 mg/kg); Groups 3, 4, and 5 received nerolidol 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nerolidol (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) significantly (P< 0.05) increased the time spent and a number of entries in open arm as compared to vehicle control in EPM test. In OFT, the nerolidol showed a significant (P< 0.05) increase in number of rearings and time spent in center and periphery, suggesting exploratory behavior of animals. Furthermore, nerolidol did not alter the fall down latency in rotarod test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicated that nerolidol exerts an anxiolytic effect without altering the motor coordination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Division of Pharmacology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Division of Pharmacology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Dilpreet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Division of Pharmacology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pahwa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C037055:nerolidol
keywords: Anxiety; diazepam; elevated plus maze; nerolidol; open field test