Effects of homeopathic Anax imperator on behavioural and pain models in mice

•Effects of dragonfly (Anax imperator) homeopathic remedy on depression and anxiety.•Effects of dragonfly (Anax imperator) homeopathic remedy on analgesia.•Effects of dragonfly (Anax imperator) homeopathic remedy on locomotion.•Effects of dragonfly (Anax imperator) homeopathic remedy on body weight.

BackgoundHomeopathy is a medical theory and practice that asserts that disease can be cured by remedies that produce symptoms in a healthy person similar to those suffered by a patient with a malady.MethodsThe aim of this study was to investigate effects of homeopathic Anax imperator (dragonfly) (Anax-i 30c and Anax-i 200c) in the forced swim test (FST), elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, hot plate (HP) test and open field test and examined NPY1 receptor expression, in naive mice.ResultsIn the FST, treatment with Anax-i 30c or Anax-i 200c significantly diminished immobility time while in EPM test, Anax-i 200c increased the percentage of time spent in open arms as well as the percentage of open arm/total arms. In the HP test, Anax-i 30c or Anax-i 200c decreased the total time mice spent licking their hind paws while in open field test, treatment with Anax-i 200c increased the total distance and speed mice traveled compared to the control group. Three weeks of daily injections with Anax-i 30c or Anax-i 200c caused significant weight loss in mice. Anax-i 30c or Anax-i 200c treatment significantly decreased NPY1 receptor expression, and Anax-i 30c also decreased NPY2 receptor expression.ConclusionThese results suggest that the homeopathic Anax-i exerts antidepressant, anxiolytic and analgesic-like effects and causes hyperlocomotion and weight loss.