ABSTRACT
Experimental drugs and/or plant extracts are often dissolved in solvents, including propylene glycol. Nevertheless, there is evidence for psychoactive properties of this alcohol. In this study we found that in the hole-board test 10 percent propylene glycol did not modify the head-dipping behavior. However, 30 percent propylene glycol induced an increase in the number of head-dips (46.92 + or - 2.37 compared to 33.83 + or - 4.39, P<0.05, ANOVA/Student-Newman-Keuls), an effect comparable to that obtained with 0.5 mg/kg diazepam (from 33.83 + or - 4.39 to 54 + or - 3.8, P<0.01, ANOVA/Student-Newman-Keuls). These results demonstrate that 30 percent propylene glycol has significant anxiolytic effects in this model and therefore cannot be used as an innocuous solvent