A Comparison Between Ethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Tuber in Amelioration of Experimentally Induced Anxiety in Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Objective: Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state. When it becomes excessive, it needs medical intervention. The intent of this study was to assess and to compare the potential of aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained from the tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius    to alleviate anxiety in Swiss albino mice. Method: A. paeoniifolius    tuber was procured, shed dried and ground to powder. Then it was extracted using water and ethanol by cold maceration and soxhlation technique respectively. The extracts were underwent phytochemical screening. The aqueous and ethanolic extract was subsequently examined for its anxiety-reducing effects at various doses (100mg/kg, 150mg/kg and 250mg/kg) employing different animal anxiety models such as the open field test, elevated plus maze test, light and dark box test. Result: The extracts were found to contain alkaloid, flavonoid, reducing sugar, carbohydrate, tannin, steroid and triterpenoids when they underwent phytochemical screening. Both the extract shows potent anxiolytic activity in all three animal models of anxiety when compared to control in Swiss albino mice. However, ethanolic extract shows more significant anxiolytic activity than aqueous extract. 250mg/kg ethanolic extract showed highest anxiety amelioration when compared to all other doses. Conclusion: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius    aqueous and ethanolic extract is effective in ameliorating anxiety in Swiss albino mice. Keywords: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius; Anxiolytic activity; Animal behavioural tests; Medicinal plants