Anxiolytic activity of Berberis aristata root extract in mice

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is a common emotional response in humans and it is one of most common psychiatric illnesses. Interest in herbal drugs is growing nowadays for the optimum treatment of anxiety. The aim of the present study was to explore the anxiolytic effect of berberine chloride (BER). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Elevated plus maze model was used to know its anxiolytic effect and possible mechanism on acute administration in mice. Six groups of mice with six in each group were used. Group I served as control group; Group II received diazepam (0.5 mg/kg); and Groups III, IV, and V received BER in doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Group VI received BER 5 mg/kg after flumazenil 5 mg/kg. RESULTS: As compared to control, berberine chloride solution at all three doses 2.5 mg/kg (P < 0.01), 5 mg/kg (P < 0.01), and 10 mg/kg (P < 0.01) increased the total entries into open arms entries as well as total time spent in open arms. CONCLUSION: Anxiolytics effect of berberine is comparable to diazepam, likely to be mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid A – Cl− channel complex as effects of berberine were blocked by prior administration of flumazenil. Further studies are needed to identify the phytoconstituents of the berberine which mediated the observed anxiolytic effects.

Keywords

• antianxiety
• berberine extract
• diazepam
• elevated plus maze