Publication:

Anxiolytic activity of ethanolic and aqueous extract of Ficus carica Linn fruits in swiss albino mice

Background Benzodiazepams are mainly used to treat anxiety but these drugs produce serious adverse effects, hence herbal drugs are preferred. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-anxiety activity of ethanolic and aqueous extract of Ficus carica (FC) Linn fruits in swiss albino mice.

Methods Male swiss albino rats weighing 25-30gms were divided into six groups and six animals in each group. Diazepam (1.0 mg/kg), AEFC (200 and 400 mg/kg) and EEFC (200 and 400 mg/kg) were suspended in 1% gum acacia and administered orally. The EEFC and AEFC (both extracts at 200 and 400mg/kg/p.o) and vehicle were administered for 7 days once daily p.o. and the last dose was given on the 7lh day, 60 min prior to exposure to the experimental paradigms viz., Elevated plus maze, T- maze model and Hole -board model.

Results Both the extracts of FC significantly increased the number of entries into, time spent and rears in the open arms. Also, it increased the percentile ratio of open arm to total arm entries in elevated plus maze. In T- maze, the both the extracts FC showed a significant increase in baseline latency and decrease in escape and avoidance. In the hole-board model a significant increase in the exploratory behavior like head-dipping and line crossing, rearing was observed after treatment with EEFC and AEFC. FC also decreases the nor-adrenaline levels and increase in serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. These behavioural changes were significantly higher than that produced by the standard anxiolytic drug diazepam.

Conclusions It was concluded that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Ficus carica fruits having antianxiety activity.