Evaluation of Anxiolytic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Thymus vulgaris Leaves Using Elevated Plus Maze [EPM] Test

Abstract

The most common group of psychiatric diseases are anxiety disorders, thus there is increase need for anxiolytics as a result of increasingly paced world. The current anxiolytics are characterized by serious adverse effects and narrow therapeutic margin, therefore, there is need for alternative drugs in terms of plants which are cheaper, more accessible and more affordable. Thymus vulgaris L. [Lamiaceae] is a medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, Ethinomedicinally T. vulgaris has anti-anxiety, sedative, hypnotic antihelminthic, expectorant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antivirotic, carminative, and diaphoretic effects. The anxiolytic activity of T.vulgaris L was evaluated using three different doses [50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg body weight of the extract], 5mg/kg diazepam was also used a reference drug by EPM. The result indicated statistically dose-dependent reduction of anxiety activities [P<0.05] and highly statistically dosedependent reduction of anxiety activities [P>0.05] in EPM test. The phytochemicals responsible for the anti-anxiety effects should be elucidated and characterized.