Abstract

ANXIOLYTIC AND ANTI DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF ARECA CATECHU LINN. IN MICE

Ruckmani. A*, Vinayak Meti, Kavitha K. N

Abstract

Seventy two Swiss adult albino mice weighing 25–30 grams were divided equally into three groups and allocated to Forced swim test (FST), Tail suspension (TST) and Elevated plus maize test (EPM). FST and TST were used to evaluate antidepressant activity and EPM for anxiolytic activity. Each group had 4 sub groups (control, standard and the 2 test groups) of 6 animals in each. The control group received the vehicle, gum acacia; standard group 1, Diazepam (for EPM), Standard group 2, Imipramine (For FST and TST) and the 2 test groups received the aqueous (AEAC) and methanolic extract (MEAC) of areca catechu. For acute study, single dose was given 60 min prior to the experiment and for chronic study the drugs were given once a day for 15 days. Statistical analysis was performed using Mean +/- SD. ANOVA followed by Student–Newman–Keuls as the post-hoc test. AEAC and MEAC have shown significant anxiolytic activity greater than diazepam in EPM test. The antidepressant activity of both AEAC and MEAC was comparable to Imipramine in FST and TST. The present study has shown that both AEAC and MEAC have anxiolytic and antidepressant activity. The anxiolytic activity was greater than Diazepam and antidepressant activity is comparable to Imipramine.

Keywords: Areca catechu, Imipramine, Diazepam, Anxiety, Depression, EPM, FST, TST.