Effect of Matricaria recutita Hydroalcoholic Extract on Anxiety Behavior in Mice by Hole-Board Test

Background: An anxiolytic effect of chamomile has been shown in various studies. In the previous study was indicated that the Iranian specious of chamomile, Matricaria recutita (M. recutita) hydro alcoholic extract acts sex dependent in the elevated plus maze. It showed anxiolytic effect in the presence and absence of male mice gonads but not in female mice. In this study we examined the anxiety model dependent of M. recutita in another unconditioned anxiety model, hole-board test, because there are various model for evaluating anxiety with specific properties.

materials and Methods: Adult male and female of N-MARI mice (N=120) were prepared and each sex divided into 5 groups (each group consist of 12 animals): control group, saline and 3 experimental groups that received different doses (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) of M. recutita hydro alcoholic extract. Hole-board instrument was used to anxiety measurement, and delay time, the devour number and maintained time in the holes, as anxiety indices in this device, were evaluated.

Results: There were not any significant differences between anxiety indices in control and saline groups in both sexes. M. recutita extract (10, 30 and 50 mg/kg via i.p.) reduced significantly an anxiety in both male and female mice and an anxiolytic effects of 30 mg/kg than the other doses were considerably higher.

Conclusion: It seems an anxiolytic effect of M. recutita is independent to anxiety model and the similarity effect at male and female mice in this model emphasizes the validity of the model.