1Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy, Chaitanya Deemed to be University, Hanamkonda, Telangana, India
1*Department of Pharmacy, Chaitanya Deemed to be University, Hanamkonda, Telangana, India (for Praveena Chinthala)
2Anwarul Uloom College of Pharmacy, New Mallepally, Telangana, India
Corresponding author: Praveena Chinthala, Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Chaitanya Deemed to be University, Hanamkonda, Telangana, India. E-mail: praveenamr18@gmail.com
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions and are often associated with cognitive impairment and altered behavioral responses. The present study aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic-like activity of Pogostemon paniculatus (PP) hydroalcoholic extract in scopolamine-induced anxiety and dementia-like conditions in rats. Fresh plant material of Pogostemon paniculatus was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus with hydroalcohol, and the extract was administered orally at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. Male rats were divided into five groups: normal control, disease control (scopolamine 0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), standard control (diazepam 2 mg/kg, i.p.), and two treatment groups receiving PP at 250 and 500 mg/kg along with scopolamine. Anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity were assessed using the Open Field Test (OFT) and Light–Dark Box (LDB) test. In the OFT, PP treatment significantly increased the time spent in the central zone and the number of central entries, while also modulating rearing and line-crossing behavior, indicating reduced anxiety without marked locomotor impairment. In the LDB test, PP produced a dose-dependent increase in time spent in the light compartment and the number of entries into the light box, comparable to the standard anxiolytic drug diazepam. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test revealed significant differences among groups (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that Pogostemon paniculatus possesses significant anxiolytic-like activity and may serve as a potential natural therapeutic agent for the management of anxiety-related disorders, possibly through modulation of central nervous system pathways involved in anxiety.
Keywords: Anxiety, Anxiolytic activity, Pogostemon paniculatus, Scopolamine-induced model, Open Field Test, Light–Dark Box test, Diazepam, Rats
How to cite this article: Qureshi F, Reddy AV, Chinthala P. Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of pogostemon paniculatus (willd.) Benth using experimental animal models. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(11s): 404-410. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.11s.39
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None