[Effects of intracerebroventricular injection of alcoholic extract of hawthorn [crataegus melano carpa] leaves on fear behavior in presence pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] in adult male rat]

ABSTRACT

In traditional medicine "Crataegus melanocarpa" is one of the medicinal plants that has many therapeutic effects. One of them is its effect on nerveous system. Evaluation of Intracerebroventricular [ICV] injection of alcoholic extract of "crataegus melanocarpa" leaves on fear behavior in presence pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] in adult male rat. Animals were divided into 3 groups experimental, saline and, pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] 20mg/kg as positive control [I.P]. In the experimental group, the animals received 4000 microg/Rat alcoholic extract of "Crataegus melanocarpa" leaves [ICV] and PTZ [I.P]. Then plus maze was used for evaluation of the fear. Open arm entries percentage [%OAE] and open arm time percentage [%OAT] were evaluated. The results show that intracerebroventricular [ICV] injection of alcoholic extract of "Crataegus melanocarpa" leaves increased%OAE and%OAT significantly [p<0.05]. We concluded that alcoholic extract of "Crataegus melanocarpa" is effective on fear reduction in presence pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] in adult male rat