Anxiolytic Effect of a Methanolic Extract of the Embelia ribes Burm F. in Mice

In the present study the anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Embelia ribes Burm f. (ER) was evaluated. The anxiolytic activity was evaluated using elevated plus maze, hole board test, mirrored chamber apparatus and alongwith biochemical estimation of GABA. In the elevated plus maze test, ER (100 and 300 mg/kg p.o.) significantly (P<0.01) increased the number of entries and time spent in open arm. In the hole board test, ER (100 and 300 mg/kg p.o.), showed significant increase (P<0.01) in number of head dips. In the mirrored chamber apparatus, ER showed significant increase in the number of entries and time spent in mirrored chamber, along with significant decrease in the latency to enter the mirrored chamber. ER (300 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant (P<0.01) increase in the brain GABA level. The results indicate that ER possesses significant anxiolytic activity probably by increasing the GABA concentration in the brain.