Download Anxiety behavior is reduced in the Balb/c mice that treated by

Anxiety behavior is reduced in the Balb/c mice that treated by
methanolic extract of Urtica urens: An elevated plus maze and Open
field analysis
Zouhra DOUKKALI 1*
*Corresponding author
Email: [email protected]
Khalid TAGHZOUTI 2
Email: [email protected]
Yahya CHERRAH 1
Email: [email protected]
Katim ALAOUI 1
Email: k.alaoui@ um5s.net.ma
1Pharmacodynamy
Research Team, ERP, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and
Pharmacy, University Mohammed V of Rabat .Morocco.
2Laboratory
Morocco.
of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology - Faculty of Science - University Mohammed V of Rabat,
ABSTRACT
Background
The most widely prescribed medications for anxiety disorders are the Benzodiazepines;
however, they have prominent side effects. Thus, interest in alternative medicine that
affects the ‘mind’ is growing. Among medicinal plants, Urtica urens has been recommended
for relief of anxiety in Morocco folk medicine. Nevertheless, no pharmacological studies
have thus far evaluated its effects on central nervous system.
Methods
This work is aimed to evaluate a possible anxiolytic-like effect of methanolic extract of urtica
urens in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and Open Field (OF) models of anxiety. The urtica
urens extract was administered orally to Balb/c mice, at graded doses and diazepam was
given intraperitonealy.
Results
In the EPM, methanolic extract at 100 -400mg/kg showed an anxiolytic effect by increasing
the time spent on open arms and the percentage of open arm entries compared to control
group. In an open field test methanolic extract of U.urens (400mg/kg) increased the central
area crossing, the time spent and number of rearing in the center of arena.
Conclusions
These data support that the methanolic extract of Urtica urens might possess significant
anxiolytic potential to be pursued further for drug development process and provide a
scientific evidence for its traditional claim.
Keywords: Anxiety, Balb/c mice, elevated plus maze, Open field, methanolic extract of
Urtica urens, Morocco.