Anxiolytic property of Lactuca sativa, effect on anxiety behaviour induced by novel food and height.

OBJECTIVE

To study anxiolytic property of hydro alchohol extract and to estimate polyphenols present in the extract by HPLC.

METHODS

To evaluate anxiolytic property two animal models were used viz. Elevated T maze and hyponeophagia. Diazepam (1 mg/kg body wt.) served as the standard anxiolytic agent for all the tests. The dried extract of the plant leaf in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight was administered orally to mice for duration of 15 or 30 days and locomotor and anxiolytic activities were performed. Polyphenols was estimated using HPLC.

RESULTS

The HPLC analysis of the polyphenols revealed the presence chlorogenic acid, vanillin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, rutin hydrate, sinapic acid, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, p-coumeric acid and quercitin. Time spent and number of entries into the open arm was improved in 30 days treated animals than that of 15 days treated groups, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight treated group showed significant results when comparing with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The hydro alcohol extract rich in Polyphenols and other secondary metabolites is a potent anxiolytic agent.