Effects of Lactuca sativa extract on exploratory behavior pattern, locomotor activity and anxiety in mice

ObjectiveTo evaluate antianxiety property of Lactuca sativa, an important and commonly used leafy vegetable known for its medicinal properties belongs to Asteraceae family.MethodsElevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), rat exposure test, hyponeophagia and marble burying test were performed in mice models to assess the exploratory behaviour and to assess anxiolytic property of hydro-alcohol extract of Lactuca sativa. Diazepam (1 mg/kg body wt.) served as the standard anxiolytic agent for all the tests. The dried extract of the plant leaf in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight was administered orally to mice for duration of 15 or 30 days and evaluated exploratory behaviour, locomotor and anxiolytic activities.ResultsTime spent and number of entries into the open arm was measured in EPM followed by total locomotor activity in OFT and latency to enter the food zone in hyponeophagia.ConclusionsThe study suggested that hydro-alcohol extract of Lactuca sativa leaves possess potent anxiolytic property.