ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS AND ALCOHOLIC WHOLE-PLANT EXTRACTS OF GRANGEA MADERASPATANA L. IN MICE AND RATS

Background: Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir. (Asteraceae), traditionally used as a stomachic, sedative and carminative, has been pharmacologically studied for its oestrogenic, antifertility, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial activity, but its anxiolytic potential has not been systematically evaluated. Aim: To evaluate the anxiolytic activity of aqueous (AQEWGM) and alcoholic (ALEWGM) whole-plant extracts of G. maderaspatana. Materials and Methods: AQEWGM and ALEWGM were prepared by cold maceration and screened for phytoconstituents. Acute oral toxicity was assessed in mice up to 2000 mg/kg (OECD 420), and three doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were selected. Anxiolytic activity was evaluated using the staircase, elevated plus-maze, hole-board and mirror-chamber tests in mice and rats, with diazepam (2 mg/kg) as standard. Results: Both extracts were non-toxic up to 2000 mg/kg. AQEWGM and ALEWGM (100-400 mg/kg) significantly increased steps climbed and rearings in the staircase test; increased open-arm entries/time and reduced closed-arm entries/time in the elevated plus-maze without altering total arm entries; increased head-dips, time in head-dips and rearings while reducing latency to first head-dip and defecation in the hole-board test (with a comparatively weaker effect of ALEWGM on head-dipping itself); and reduced latency to enter while increasing entries into, and time spent in, the mirror chamber - effects broadly comparable to diazepam. AQEWGM was consistently more active than ALEWGM across all four models. Phytochemical screening showed carbohydrates, steroids/triterpenoids and flavonoids in both extracts, with saponins additionally present in ALEWGM. Conclusion: Whole-plant extracts of G. maderaspatana possess significant anxiolytic-like activity across four behavioural paradigms, plausibly related to their terpenoid, steroid, flavonoid and saponin content, supporting further mechanistic investigation of the plant as a source of anxiolytic leads.