Effect of Crude Ethanol Leaf-extract of Murraya koenigii on Anxiety in Mice

Herbs are used the world over for culinary purposes and treating a host of ailments including mental disorders. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the effects of curry plant (Murraya koenigii), commonly used as spice, on anxiety in mice. Twenty CD1 mice (body weight 21.5 g -30 g) were randomly assigned to two (2) groups of ten mice each. Mice received vehicle (distilled water- control) and ethanol leaf-extract of M. koenigii extract (80 mg/kg body weight) orally for 7 days before behavioural tests were done. Anxiety related behaviour were assesd using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the light/dark (LD) box. M. koenigii extract increased the duration the mice spent in the open arms of EPM compared to the control (p<0.01) while also decreasing the time the mice spent in the close arms compared to control (p<0.01). The frequency of stretch attend postures of M. koenigii-treated mice were significantly (p<0.05) lower both in the EPM and LD box compared to control. These results indicate that M. koenigii extract decreased anxiety in the mice.