Weekar Younus Raja, Z A Bhat and I A Chashoo
Accepted Abstracts: Nat Prod Chem Res
Ailanthus altissima belonging to the Simaroubaceae family is used in traditional medicine in many parts of Asia, Western part of Himalayas and Kashmir in India, including China, Japan and Korea. Anti-anxiety activity of Ailanthus altissima was evaluated by employing a widely used model, i.e. elevated plus-maze and light and dark arena. The mean number of entries and time spent by rats in open and enclosed arms on 1st and 7th day in case of elevated plus-maze and the mean number of entries and time spent by rats on 1st and 7th dayin lighted and dark arena in case of light and dark test was compared after oral administration of two doses viz. 100 and 200 mg/kg of methanolic and aqueous extracts of root bark of Ailanthus altissima on seven days. In the EPM, the results showed that aqueous extract of root bark at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. showed the most significant time spent in open arm i.e., 116.3 sec on 1st day and119.20 sec on 7th day. The methanolic extract of root bark at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. showed the most significant time spent in open arm 102.70 sec on 1st day and 109.30 sec on 7th day. In the light and dark test, the results showed that aqueous extract of root bark at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. showed the most significant time spent in lighted area 120.2 sec on 1st day and 122.4 sec on 7th day. The methanolic extract of root bark at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. showed highest time spent in lighted area i.e., 105.10 sec on 1st day and 106.10 sec on 7th day. The results indicate that aqueous extract of root bark at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w and methanolic extract of root bark at a dose of 200 mg/ kg b.w. showed statistically significant anti-anxiety activity as compared to the standard drug Diazepam and can be used for formulating preparation for anxiety.
Weekar Younus Raja completed MPharma in Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry from Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, MBA in Hospital Management from Bharathiar University Coimbatore Chennai (2010) and presently pursuing his PhD in Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry from Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Kashmir. He is a BSR UGC fellow. He has published two papers in international journal of repute and attended many international and national conferences and workshops.
