Publication:

Anti-anxiety activity of ethanolic extract of Spermacoce hispida leaves in swiss albino mice

Background The objective of the study was to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of Spermacoce hispida (EESH) in swiss albino mice.

Methods Forty eight adult Swiss albino mice weighing 25-30grams were selected. 24 were allocated to Elevated plus maize test and the remaining 24 to Bright and dark box test models. In each model, there were 4 groups. The control group received normal saline (10ml/kg), the standard, Diazepam (1mg/kg) and test groups received ethanolic extract of Spermacoce hispida (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg p.o. respectively) 1h prior to the acute study. In chronic study the drugs were given orally once a day for 10 days and the last dose was given 1h before the experiment. The antianxiety activity of the test drug was evaluated using EPM test and Bright and dark box test experimental models of anxiety. All results were expressed as mean±standard error mean (SEM) and analysed by one-way ANOVA. Post-hoc comparisons were performed by applying Dunnet’s test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results Ethanolic extract of Spermacoce hispida significantly increased the duration of time spent and number of entries in open arm in EPM and increased the number of entries into the bright arena, the time spent and the rears in bright arena indicating anxiolytic activity and EESH 200 mg/kg was found to be better than diazepam.

Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that the ethanolic extract of Spermacoce hispida have anxiolytic activity better than Diazepam.