Anxiolytic-Like and Sedative Effects of Alcea Aucheri (Boiss.) Alef. Flower Extract in the Laboratory Rat

The present study was conducted to investigate the possible anxiolytic and sedative ofan acute administration and 4-day repeated dosing of an aqueous extract of flowers of Alceaaucheri (Boiss.) Alef. (EFA) in rats subjected to the elevated plus-maze (EPM), open-field, andhorizontal wire tests. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally. Phytochemical screeningconfirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and polysaccharides in the extract.Repeated dosing of EFA (at dose of 35 mg/kg) significantly increased percentage of timespent on open arms and of open arms entries, and also decreased percentage of time spent onclosed arms and of closed arms entries; compared with saline control, 24 h after treatment.In addition, repeated dosing of EFA (at dose of 175 mg/kg) significantly increased open armactivity 48 h after treatment, versus saline group. This effect was also observed following acuteadministration of EFA at 175 mg/kg. In open field, acute administration of EFA at doses of 17.5,35, 70, 175, 350, and 700 mg/kg induced a statistically significant and dose-dependent decreasein locomotor activity, compared with saline control. ED50 value for EFA-induced decrease inlocomotor activity was 194 mg/kg. Furthermore, unlike diazepam; EFA didn´t decrease thepercent of the rats grasping the wire.These data suggest that Alcea aucheri extract may have anxiolytic and sedative propertiesand some of the components in the extract such as phenolic compounds may have contributedto the observed effects