EVALUATION OF ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF TRACHYSPERMUM AMMI L

Objective: The anxiolytic activity of the methanol extract of Trachyspermum ammi. L was investigated by hole board and passive avoidance response test.Methods: The study was conducted using hole board and passive avoidance response tests. 21 male albino mice and rats for each hole board test and passive avoidance response test were used respectively. In both the experiments animals were equally divided into three groups; control, given 2% gum tragacanth (10 ml/kg), standard given diazepam (1 mg/kg) and test group given 50 mg/kg extract of Trachyspermum ammi. L. The data were subjected to analysis by taking mean and standard error to the mean using one sample t-test.Results: The extract of Trachyspermum ammi. L revealed a decrease of 17.43 counts/3 minutes in number of head dips (hole board test) as compared to control, which was almost comparable to diazepam. The decrease in compartment change time (passive avoidance response test) of Trachyspermum ammi L treated animals was 107.2 seconds as compared to control. All of the changes were statistically highly significant.Conclusion: The Methanol extract of Trachyspermum Ammi. L showed anxiolytic activity may be due to the presence of thymol in it, which has the mechanism similar to that of benzodiazepines but further studies are needed to reach a final conclusion.Â