ABSTRACT
Background and Purpose: Previous studies suggest that the leaf of Trigonella foenum [TF] has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and probably modulatory effects on sleep and anxiety reactions. The present study is intended to determine the effects of hydro - alcoholic extract of TF on anxiety and sleeping time in mice
Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, 140 male albino mice [25-30 gr] were used in 14 groups [n=10 in each group]. Elevated plus maze [EPM] was used for the assessment of anxiety, and experimental groups received hydro-alcoholic extracts of TF [50, 100, 200, 400 and 80 mg/kg] as IP injection; sham group received saline [10 mg/kg IP injection] 30 minutes prior to evaluation; the control group did not receive any injection. 25 minutes after injection, animals were put in a black box for 5 minutes in order to increase their activity; then, they were transferred to the EPM for anxiety evaluation by two factors: the time spent and frequency of entrance to the open arms of the EPM. In order to assess sleeping time, the Angel method [records of sleeping duration by physiograph] was used. 30 minutes before sleep assessment, TF extract and saline were used for experimental and sham groups; the control group received nothing as what we did in anxiety evaluation. Finally, ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for data analysis
Results: The findings indicated that the hydro-alcoholic extract of TF in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly increased the time spent and frequency of entrance to the open arms of EPM [p<0.05] in the experimental groups rather than in sham and control groups; this indicates a reduction of anxiety. Also, the TF extract in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly increased sleep duration [p<0.05] in comparison with the sham and control groups
Conclusion: The results indicated that the TF extract had an effective role in reducing anxiety reactions and increasing sleep duration in mice