Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTI-ANXIETY ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF IPOMOEA BATATAS (SWEET POTATO) LEAVES IN MICE

Tabassum Khan*, Dr. Satyaendra K. Shrivastava, Dr. Rupesh Kumar Pandey, Anees Ghosi and Versha Prajapati

ABSTRACT

Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam, commonly known as sweet potato belonging to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-anxiety activity of the aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas leaves. Swiss Albino mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=6), group I and II received normal saline (10ml/kg) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively, while group III and IV received orally 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of the aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas leaves, respectively. Then the mice were individually placed in animal anxiety models: elevated plus maze (EPM) and mirrored chamber model and evaluated for various parameters. In EPM test 200 and 400mg/kg doses of the aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas leaves significantly increased percent number of entries and the time spent in open arm as compared to control group. In mirrored chamber model both doses also produced a significant increase in time spent and number of entries in the mirrored chamber as compared to vehicle treated control mice. Similarly there was a significant decrease in the transfer latency in the mirrored chamber as compared to control group. The aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas leaves was found to exhibit a promising anxiolytic activity. Further investigation of the mechanism of action of plant extracts, as well as the active substances for its biological actions, is necessary.

Keywords: Anti-anxiety, Ipomoea batatas, Elevated plus maze model, Mirrored chamber model.