Comparative Effect of Saffron Extract and Alprazolam on Reducing Anxiety
in the Mice

Azam Talebi; Mehrdad Modaresi; Ali Mahdad

Abstract

Comparative Effect of Saffron Extract and Alprazolam on Reducing Anxiety in the Mice

Author(s): Azam Talebi , Mehrdad Modaresi and Ali Mahdad

Anxiety disorders are of the most common types of mental disorders, and yet anti-anxiety medications are also of numerous side effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of replacing Alprazolam with saffron extract in reducing anxiety. In this study 48 adult mice were used in 6 groups, including extracts with amounts of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, alprazolam, anxiety and control. The control group received no intervention or drugs, and anxiety in both main groups of anxiety and appetite was affected by stress, hence, their anxiety and appetite was estimated and recorded without taking any drugs. The alprazolam group received doses of 0.5 mg/kg and 1 hour after the injection, anxiety was induced to the mice by dark boxes and related anxiety and appetite behaviors were studied. In the anxiety group, intraperitoneal injection of hydro-alcoholic extract of saffron in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for each mouse was applied to 3 Extract Experimental groups. Then each mouse’s anxiety level was recorded using the elevated plus-maze, and results were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan's statistical tests. Saffron extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of mice’s body weight -compared to the anxiety groupmeaningfully increased the duration of animal presence at open branches of the plus-shaped maze, which represents a decrease in anxiety. The 200 mg/kg dose of saffron extract compared to that of alprazolam, and doses 50 or 100 of the extract were more effective in reducing anxiety and loss of appetite. We can conclude that dose-dependent hydro-alcoholic saffron extract is effective in reducing anxious reactions and could be a viable alternative to alprazolam in the treatment of anxiety.

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