Evaluation of Ashwagandha in alcohol withdrawal syndrome

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of Ashwagandha (ASW) in attenuation of alcohol withdrawal in ethanol withdrawal mice model.MethodsAlcohol dependence was induced in mice by the oral, once-daily administration of 10% v/v ethanol (2 g/kg) for one week. Once the animals were withdrawn from alcohol, the efficacy of ASW (200mg/kg and 500mg/kg) in comparison with diazepam (1 mg/kg) in the attenuation of withdrawal was studied using, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling test for seizure threshold, forced swim test (FST) for depression and locomotor activity (LCA) in open field test (OFT). 6 hours after the last ethanol administration, seizure threshold was measured in all the groups by administering the convulsant drug, PTZ with a subconvulsive dose of 30 mg/kg i.p). In FST, mice were forced to swim and the total duration of immobility (seconds) was measured during the last 4 min of a single 6-min test session. In OFT, number of crossings of the lines marked on the floor was recorded for a period of 5 min.ResultsCompared to ethanol group, ASW (500 mg/Kg) has suppressed the PTZ kindling seizures in ethanol withdrawal animals [0% convulsion], FST has shown decreased immobility time and OFT has exhibited increase in the number of line crossing activity by mice which may be the consequence of anxiolytic activity of ASW similar to that of diazepam.ConclusionsThe present study provides satisfactory evidence to use ASW as a safe and reliable alternative to diazepam in alcohol withdrawal conditions.