Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of the essential oil of the aerial part of Foeniculum vulgare Miller in mice

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Workineh Shibeshi²  Kaleab Asres¹  Miraf Mesfin² 

[1] Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;Department of Pharmacology and clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

关键词: Mice;    Essential oil;    Foeniculum vulgare;    Anxiolytic activity;   

Others  :  1086911
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6882-14-310

 received in 2014-03-06, accepted in 2014-08-19,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Foeniculum vulgare locally known as ensilal, is an aromatic plant widely cultivated in temperate and tropical regions. The anti-anxiety activity of the crude extract of F. vulgare has been reported. However, the fraction responsible for anxiolytic activity is not known and there is no any report on the anti-anxiety activity of the essential oil of F. vulgare. The objective of study was to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of the essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare Miller.

Methods

Adult Swiss albino male mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6). Groups I and II received Tween 80 (5%, v/v) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, ip), respectively, while groups III to V received orally 50, 100, and 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of the essential oil of F. vulgare, respectively. The mice were then individually placed in animal anxiety models: elevated plus maze (EPM), staircase test (SCT) and open field test (OFT) and evaluated for various parameters.

Results

In EPM test, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of the essential oil significantly increased percent number of entries and time spent in open arms compared to control. In SCT these doses also reduced rearing significantly compared to controls, while only the 200 mg/kg dose significantly increased number of squares crossed at the center in the OFT test.

Conclusion

The essential oil of F. vulgare was found to exhibit a promising anxiolytic activity.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Mesfin et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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