Abstract

ANXIOLYTIC AND ANTIDEPRESSIVE ACTIVITY OF NEPETA GRANATENSIS ESSENTIAL OIL

Bouchra Rahmouni*, El Houcine Bouidida, Khalid Taghzouti,
Abdelkader Il Idrissi

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the anxiolytic activity of essential oil of Nepeta granatensis. The anxiolytic activity of the essential oil (12,5; 25; 37,5; 50 mg/kg), Diazepam (1mg/kg) and Fluoxetine 10 mg/kg standard drugs were assessed in Balb/c mice by elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OF), and forced swimming test (FST) models. The results showed that the essential oil significantly had increased the number of entries and time spent in the open arm in the elevated plus maze apparatus. Moreover, in the open field a significant increase in number of rearing, and number of squares crossed were shown. The administration of the essential oil had produced a diminution of immobility time of mice exposed to forced swimming test in dose dependant manner. Therefore, Nepeta granatensis owned an anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties

Keywords: Nepeta granatensis, micro-wave, essential oil, elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OF), forced swimming test (FST).