BACKGROUND Behavioral effects of benzodiazepines following repeated exposure vary according to the intrinsic efficacy of the benzodiazepine studied, treatment schedule and the behavioral parameters evaluated. METHODS We applied the behavioral paradigms of spontaneous locomotor activity, elevated plus maze and grip strength to investigate the sedative, anxiolytic and myorelaxant effect of acut...

Dioscorea bulbifera commonly known as Varahikanda, is widely distributed throughout the India, and it has been traditionally used for the treatment of nervous excitability, senility and hysteria. Based on this, neuropharmacological activity of tubers of D. bulbifera was evaluated using various experimental models. Effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Dioscorea bulbifera tubers (DBE) (10,30,100,...

Plasma oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are associated with individual differences in emotional responses and behaviors. The amygdala is considered to be an important brain region for regulating emotion-based behavior, with OT and AVP modulating activity in the amygdala during the processing of negative emotions. In particular, increased OT levels may diminish amygdala activation (a...

It is becoming increasingly clear that the community of microorganisms living in the mammalian gut (the gut microbiota) exerts a significant influence on brain function. Evidence suggests that the microbiota plays a role in anxiety and anxiety-like behavior in animal models. Several studies have demonstrated reduced anxiety-like behavior with administration of probiotics (live bacteria with kno...

The present study evaluated anxiolytic activity of (+)-limonene epoxide (EL), through the marble burying test (MBT) assay, and the antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo in mice hippocampus of adult mice subjected to experimental anxiety protocol. For behavioral studies, and in vivo antioxidant analyses, mice were treated orally with 0.05% Tween 80 dissolved in 0.9% saline solution (vehicle...

Anxiety-related disorders are frequently observed in the population. Because the available pharmacotherapies for anxiety can cause side effects, new anxiolytic compounds have been screened using behavioral tasks. For example, diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2, a simple organoselenium compound with neuroprotective effects, has demonstrated anxiolytic effects in rodents. However, this compound has not ...