Anxiolytic effect of Oxalis corniculata (Oxalidaceae) in mice

Objective: To investigate the anxiolytic effect of Oxalis corniculata in mice was examined.\udMethods: The open field test, elevated plus maze test and anti-fighting test were used to assess\udthe anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of Oxalis corniculata. Diazepam 1 mg/kg served as a\udstandard anxiolytic drug, administered intraperitoneally. Results: Ethanolic extract of Oxalis\udcorniculata (100 and 300 mg/kg) produced a significant increase in the number of squares crossed\ud(controls = 24.33依3.48), but significantly decreased both the immobility (controls = 47.17依4.29 sec)\udand fecal pellets (controls = 13.50依0.96 fecal pellets) when compared with control mice in the\udopen-field test; they significantly increased the number of entries (controls = 53.00依2.67 sec) in\udthe open arms, but decreased both the number of entries (controls = 29.33依1.05 entries) and time\udspent (controls = 166.7依4.30 sec) when compared with the control mice in the closed arms of the\udelevated plus-maze test. Furthermore, ethanol extract of Oxalis corniculata (100 and 300 mg/\udkg) decreased the fighting episodes significantly (controls = 9.50依0.62 fighting episodes) when\udcompared with control mice. In addition these results were found to be consistent with anxiolytic\udeffect produced by diazepam. Conclusions: The results of present study suggest that an ethanolic\udextract of Oxalis corniculata may possess anxiolytic activity and provide scientific evidence for\udits traditional claim