Anti-Anxiety Effect of Salvia hypoleuca

Background and objectives: Anxiety is a chronic and common disorder worldwide and impairs the quality of life of affected people. Herbal medicines have long been used to treat CNS related disorders. Salvia species are important medicinal plants that have shown various pharmacologic activities including CNS effects. Salvia hypoleuca is an annual and herbaceous plant which is endemic to Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of the hydro-alcoholic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extract of S. hypoleuca in mice. Methods: n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and hydroalcholic extracts were prepared from aerial parts of Salvia hypoleuca. Anxiolytic activity of the extracts was evaluated using open field and hole-board tests. The mice were randomly divided into different groups and were treated with normal saline, diazepam, and the extracts of S. hypoleuca (500 mg/kg, ip). Results: The results of open field and hole-board tests showed that treatment of mice with the hydro-alcoholic and methanol extracts of S. hypoleuca(500 mg/kg, ip) produced a significant anxiolytic effect as compared to the normal control group.  Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the hydro-alcoholic and methanol extracts of aerial parts of S. hypoleuca have anti-anxiety activity. The isolation and identification of the active compounds of the effective extracts are suggested.