Anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity of alcoholic extract of heartwood of Aquilaria agallocha roxb, (Thymelaeceae) in mice

The objective of the present study was to assess the anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity of alcoholic extract of heartwood of Aquilaria agallocha (AEAA) in mice. Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and tri terpenoids in AEAA. LD₅₀ study was conducted in albino mice as per OECD guidelines no 425 and it was found to be 1098mg/kg. Anxiolytic activity in mice of AEAA was assessed using elevated plus- maze (EPM), Open field test (OFT) and light-dark transition (LDT) test models and anticonvulsant activity in pentylene tetrazole (PTZ), maximal electroshock (MES) induced convulsion models. AEAA at lower dose (30mg/ kg, po) did not show any anxiolytic or anti convulsant effect. Pretreatment with AEAA (100 and 300 mg/kg, po) significantly (1) increased the total entries, number of entries into the open and closed arm and the time spent in the open arms in EPA, (2) increase total locomotion, time spent in central compartment and decrease the immobility time in OFT and (3) increase the latency to enter into the dark compartment and the time spent in the light compartment in LDT indicating that AEAA at these dose levels possess anxiolytic activity. Similarly pretreatment with AEAA (100 and 300 mg/kg, po) significantly delayed the onset of PTZ induced clonic convulsions and duration of extensor phase in MES induced convulsions indicating that this extract possess anticonvulsant activity. These results suggest that at doses 100 and 300mg/kg AEAA, exhibited both anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activities. The medium dose (100mg/kg) of AEAA showed more anxiolytic activity and less anticonvulsant activity than higher dose (300mg/kg).