ABSTRACT

Objectives: to explore the anxiolytic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of culcasian scadens in experimental animal models .

Methods:  The anxiolytic activity was examined by using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT), hole board test and light and dark box exploration test. Twenty Swiss albino male mice were divided into five groups of four mice each. Group 1 received distilled water and served as negative control; group 2 received 100mg/kg of ECS; group 3 received 200mg/kg of ECS; group 4 received 400mg/kg of ECS; and group 5 received diazepam (4mg/kg) and served as control group.

Results: showed that the administration of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg of the crude ethanolic leaf extract of C.scadens to the mice and varying result in the animal models, showing that ECS have anxiolytic effect but in some models not compared to the standard drug.