Abstract

ANXIOLYTIC, ANTIDEPRESSANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF URENA LOBATA LEAF

Pottendla Srikanth*, Dr. Somnath De, Dr. Aneela S., Suneetha Y. and Ashok K.

Abstract

Depression is one of the major mental disorders. It affects up to 25% of women and 12% of men and is a highly chronic disorder. Anxiety disorders are marked by excessive fear (and avoidance), often in response to specific objects or situations and in the absence of true danger and they are extremely common in the general population. Inflammation is a fundamental pathologic process consisting of a dynamic complex of histological apparent cytological changes, cellular infiltration and mediator release that occurs in the affected blood vessels and adjacent tissues in response to an injury or abnormal stimulation caused by a physical, chemical, or biologic agent, including the local reactions and resulting morphologic changes; the destruction or removal of the injurious material; and the responses that lead to repair and healing. Photochemical analysis of Urena lobata leaf extract has shown the presence of potent phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosteroids, fixed oils and fats, tannins and phenols. Several authors reported that flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, phenolic acids are known to be bioactive principles. Ethanolic extracts of the extract was subjected to toxicological studies (acute toxicity studies) in mice.

Keywords: Depression, Anxiety, Inflammation, Phytochemicals.