Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effect of Thymus vulgaris on wister albino rats

Background: Thymus vulgaris L, commonly known as Thyme is a native of Asia and Europe. It is known for its use in traditional medicine such as respiratory disorders, anxiety, depression etc. Even though pharmacotherapy is available in the market for anxiety and depression, adverse effects of these drugs are more. Therefore, to reduce adverse effects and improve treatment efficacy, we investigate the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant activity of the herb, Thymus vulgaris L in animal model. Aim: To evaluate the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects of T. vulgaris L aqueous extract in Wistar albino rats. Methodology: Three doses (100, 150, 200 mg/kg, i.p.) of aqueous extract of T. vulgaris L, diazepam (1 mg/kg body weight) for anti-anxiety test and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg body weight) for anti-depressant as standard controls were administered to the albino rats. Behavioral tests such as T-Maze, light-dark box, tail suspension, and forced swim tests were evaluated. Results: The 200 mg/kg dose significantly reduced anxiety and depressive behaviors, comparable to standard drugs. Lower doses showed moderate to mild effects. Conclusion: T. vulgaris demonstrates significant anti-anxiety and antidepressant activity, supporting its potential in mood disorder treatment. Further studies are required to understand the underlying mechanism of the active compounds responsible for these pharmacological activities.