Evaluation of neurobehavioral activities of ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava Linn leaves in mice model

The complementary and alternative medicines have particular importance in treating various comorbid conditions including anxiety and depression which prevalence will be raised to the second highest risk of morbidity, triggering a noteworthy socioeconomic burden. Ethanolic extract of leaves of Psidium guajava Linn (EEPG) was investigated to evaluate the anxiolytic and anti-depressant activity into two different doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of body weight) on Swiss Albino male mice utilizing experimental paradigms of anxiety and depression. The extract was also subjected to phytochemical screening. Phytochemicals screening showed the presence of numerous types of active constituents in extract, for example, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids. The experimental results revealed that in case of anxiolytic activity tests, a statistical significant (p < 0.05 vs group I) effect is observed in EPMT model, hole cross model, light and dark model in both doses, whereas in hole-board model, marble burying model tests, a statistical considerable effect is observed only at the dose of 400 mg/kg although at the dose of 200 mg/kg, anxiolytic effect is also expressed and in case of anti-depressant activity test, the statistical significant effect is observed only at the dose of 400 mg/kg. All the results are comparable with the effect of standard drugs used. Taken together, the present research work evidences the anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects of EEPG, but further investigation needed to find out the underlying mechanism of action and to isolate and purify the specific components that are responsible for aforementioned activities.