Evaluation of sesamol for anxiolytic activity in 72 hours sleep deprivation model in C57BL/6 mice

Background: In our study, we explored anxiolytic activity of sesamol in C57BL/6 mice. Anxiety was induced in mice after 72 hours of sleep deprivation. Anxiety was assessed by three behavioural tests as Open field test, hole board test and light dark chamber test. Methods: In our study, sesamol was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice for anxiolytic activity. Anxiety was induced by flower pot technique, in which sleep deprivation was done in mice for 72 hours. After 72 hours of sleep deprivation, the animals were subjected to three behavioural tests, as open field test, Hole board test and Light dark chamber test. In the Open field test, parameter assessed was time spent in central square, that was considered as a measure of anxiolytic activity. In hole board test, increase in number of head dips was indicative of anxiolytic activity. Anxiety assessment was also done by light dark chamber test, where more time spent in light chamber is considered as indicative of anxiolytic activity. Results: In open field test, sesamol 20 mg/kg group, the time spent in central square was statistically significant (p<0.05) in post hoc comparison, suggesting that sesamol exhibited anxiolytic effect in animals. In hole board test, sesamol 20 mg/kg group showed significant increase (p<0.05) in number of head dips indicating its anxiolytic activity in the said model. In light dark chamber test, there is significant increase in anxiolytic activity in diazepam group as compared to control group, while not significant with sesamol in either dose in light dark chamber test. Conclusions: So, to conclude, sesamol exhibited statistically significant anxiolytic activity in the dose of 20 mg/kg in open field test and hole board test.