RESUMO
Objective: The study was undertaken to compare the effect of ondansetron, granisetron and alprazolam on anxiety in rats. Materials and Methods: Elevated plus maze and Open field test were used to compare the effect of drugs on anxiety in rats. Six groups of rats were treated with 2% gum acacia orally, alprazolam 0.08mg/kg body weight of the rat orally, ondansetron (0.01mg/kg, 1mg/kg intraperitoneally) and granisetron (0.01mg/kg and 1mg/kg intraperitoneally) respectively. The time spent, number of entries and rears in the arms of the elevated plus maze and central and peripheral areas in the open field test Results: Alprazolam and ondansetron significantly increased (P<0.05) the time spent in open arm of elevated plus maze and central squares in the open field and decreased (P<0.05) the time spent in the closed arm of elevated maze and peripheral squares in the open field as compared to control. There was no significant difference between the effects of alprazolam and ondansetron. Granisetron did not produce any significant effect in any of the models. Conclusion: Ondansetron, but not granisetron, produced anxiolytic activity in rats which was comparable to alprazolam.