Vol. 8, Issue 4 (2019)

Background: Anxiety is emotion that people experience whenever there is an impending danger, accompanied with vague sense of apprehension. Diazepam commonly used for treatment of anxiety, have adverse effects like sedation, dependence and abuse etc. Ondansetron, a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist and Ursolic acid, a phytochemical possesses anxiolytic efficacy comparable to Diazepam with low adverse effects profile. This study compares effect of Ondansetron and Ursolic acid with Diazepam on acute anxiety in rats using open field (OF) test and elevated plus maze (EPM) test.

Methodology: Wistar albino rats of either sex (150-250g) were divided into four groups with eight rats in each group. To induce anxiety, all rats underwent forced swim test for 5 minutes, after that, study groups were given distilled water (2ml p.o.), Diazepam (1mg/kg i.p.), Ondansetron (1mg/kg i.p.) and Ursolic acid (0.2mg/kg p.o.) respectively. Effect of drugs was evaluated using OF test with parameters like number of lines crossed, central square entries, rearing, grooming, urination, defaecation and EPM test with parameters like number of entries in open arms, closed arms and time spent in open arms. Results (mean±standard deviation) were analysed using one-way ANOVA test followed by Bonferroni’s correction for numerical data and Fisher’s exact test followed by Likelihood-ratio test for categorical data.

Results: In OF test, significant improvement (p<0.05) was observed in parameters like lines crossed, central square entries, rearing, grooming and defaecation in all groups compared to control. Parameters like lines crossed, central square entries, rearing and grooming showed significant improvement (p<0.05) in Diazepam compared to Ondansetron and Ursolic acid. Significant decrease (p<0.05) in urination was seen in Diazepam as compared to Ursolic acid and control. In EPM test, significant improvement (p<0.05) was observed in parameters like time spent in open arm and number of entries in open and closed arm in all groups compared to control. Significant improvement (p<0.05) was observed in parameters like time spent and number of entries in open arm in Diazepam as compared to Ondansetron and Ursolic acid.

Conclusion: This study showed that Ondansetron and Ursolic acid have significant anxiolytic activity but it is less as compared to Diazepam.