Investigation of anxiolytic effects of the aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea in mice

Portulaca oleracea (PO) overgrows in the different parts of Iran. In previous studies, ethanolic extracts of PO showed antinociceptive activity, sedative in animal. This study was designed to evaluate anxiolytic effects in different doses of the aqueous decoction extracts of PO. In this study, fourty male mice (25-30 g) were used in elevated plus maze model. Different doses of the extract. (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg, IP) were injected to the separated groups of three (test group) and water (10 ml/kg, ip) were injected to the control group. At the first time for increasing activity, animals were placed inside the black wall box for 5 min. Then animals were transferd to the elevated plus maze for evaluation of their anxiety reaction including number and percentage of time spent in open arms. Results indicated that injection of extract reduced anxiety reaction compared to saline group dose dependently. Test group animals have more number of entrances and spent more percent time in open arm (P