Online ISSN : 2349-8080 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorinchiefijcrbp@gmail.com |
2Laboratory of Neuroscience, UFR Biosciences, Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
3Neurology Service, Functional Exploration Unit of the Nervous System, C.H.U. from Cocody-Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of hydro alcohol extract of stem bark of Xylopia villosa in rat. The hole-board test, elevated plus-maze paradigm and open field test were used to assess the anxiolytic activity of hydro alcohol extract of stem bark of Xylopia villosa. The extract of Xylopia villosa (5, 10, and 25mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered 30 min before the tests. The results showed that extract of Xylopia villosa (10 and 25 mg/kg, i.p) significantly increased the number and duration of head poking in the hole-board test. In the elevated plus-maze, the extract significantly increased the exploration of the open arm in similar way to that of diazepam. At a dose of 10 and 25 mg/kg i.p. the extract significantly increased both the time spent in and the entries into the open arm by rat. Further, in the open field test, the extract significantly increased rearing, assisted rearing, and number of squares traversed, all of which are demonstrations of exploratory behavior. The results of the present study suggest that a hydroalcohol extract of stem bark of Xylopia villosa may possess an anxiolytic effect.