Anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity of methanolic extract of allium cepa Linn (Onion) bulbs in Swiss albino mice

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity of the methanolic extract of Allium Cepa Linn (MEAC). After preliminary phytochemical evaluation, acute oral toxicity test, anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Allium Cepa bulbs at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg was assessed using elevated-plus-maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), light & dark transition (L&DT) models and anticonvulsant effect was assessed using maximal electroshock (MES) and Isoniazid (INH) induced seizure models. Oral administration of MEAC for seven days significantly increased number of entries and time spent in open arms in EPM model; latency, number of squares crossed and time spent in Central Square in OFT; time spent in light zone and number of transitions in LDT model. Further, MEAC (200 and 400 mg/kg) showed significant reduction in the duration of hind limb extensor phase in electroshock convulsions; protected the mice against the Isoniazid induced convulsions. Mechanistic studies showed significant improvement in brain GABA levels after Allium cepa treatment.