Effects of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Passiflora edulis on Anxiety Induced by Sub-acute Immobilization Stress

ABSTRACT

Aims:This study was carried out to assess the anxiolytic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of P. edulis.Place and Duration of StudyAnimal Physiology Laboratory of the Higher Teachers’ Training College, Animal Physiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences , University of Yaoundé I, from November 2017 toAugust 2018.Methodology: Anxiety was induced to mice by thesub-acute immobilization stress. After 11 days treatment, behavioural parameters were assessed using Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Open Field (OF), then biochemical parameters (MDA, GSH, SOD, catalase, GABA, GABA-T and 5-HT) were estimated.Results:The results show that treatment with P. edulisat doses 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly increased open arms entries and time, while reducing closed arms entries and time in the EPM test. Lines crossed as well as passages through the centre and the centre time were significantly increased in the OF test. It is suggested that P.edulis would protect against anxiety and this effect probably linked to its ability to fight oxidative stress and counteract hyperexcitability by potentiating the GABA action. The more effective dose, 100 mg/kg significantly (P<0.01) increased to 4.44 ± 0.24 μmol/g the activity of GSH. In mice treated with dose 100 mg/kg, the extract induced a significant decrease of three oxidative stress markers including MDA, catalase and SOD to0.22 ± 0.01 μmol/g, 1.05± 0.15 mmolH2O2/min/g; and 19.46±0.00 unit/min/mg respectively when compared to the negative control. Animals treated with P. edulis100mg/kg presented a significantincrease level (P<0.001) of GABA and 5-HT up to 4.62 ± 0.28 and μg/g and 31.47 ± 1.58 ng/ml respectively. GABA-T activity was also impacted by the treatment with P. edulis, since the value of GABA-T activity of 1.27 ± 0.10 in the negative control significantly (P<0.001) decreased to 0.37± 0.00 in the group treated with dose 100 mg/kg. Conclusion:The beneficial effects of this extract observed in this study justify the empirical use of P. edulisin the treatment of head ache and insomnia