Clinics (Jan 2010)

Evaluation of antianxiety and sedative effects of essential oil of Ducrosia anethifolia in mice

  • Valiollah Hajhashemi,
  • Mohammad Rabbani,
  • Alireza Ghanadi,
  • Elahe Davari

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322010001000020
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 65, no. 10
pp. 1037 – 1042

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: We investigated the antianxiety and sedative effects of the essential oil of Ducrosia anethifolia. Boiss. (Apiaceae). METHODS: We used elevated plus maze, spontaneous motor activity and ketamine-induced sleep tests in mice. In addition, the essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty compounds were identified, and n-decanal (70.1%) and alpha-pinene (12.4%) constituted the major components. RESULTS: In elevated plus maze, Ducrosia anethifolia essential oil at doses of 25-200 mg/kg increased the percentage of open arm time and entries. Unlike diazepam, ducrosia anethifolia essential oil could not suppress spontaneous motor activity and did not alter ketamine-induced sleep parameters. These results are indicative of antianxiety effect of Ducrosia anethifolia essential oil without sedative effect

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