ANTI-ANXIETY ACTIVITY OF BIOACTIVE FRACTIONS OF LEAVES OF CITRUS PARADISI VAR. FOSTER AND MARSHSEEDLESS

Citrus fragrances have been attributed with mood enhancing properties by aroma therapists but not validated systemically. The ethyl acetate fraction (rich in flavonoids) of leaves of Citrus paradisi var. foster and marshseedless was subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation to isolate chemical constituents responsible for anti-anxiety activity. The column chromatography of ethyl acetate fraction of Citrus paradisi var. foster and marshseedless yielded eight fractions (EAF1F-EAF8F) and twelve (EAF1M-EAF12M) respectively, which were screened for anti-anxiety activity employing elevated plus maze model. EAF2F and EAF2M of foster and marshseedless produced significant anti-anxiety activity at the dose of 10mg/kg p.o., upon acute administration in mice. EAF2F and EAF2M of foster and marshseedless was again subjected to column chromatography and yielded four sub fractions (EAF2F.1-EAF2F.4) for foster and five sub fractions (EAF2M.1-EAF2M.5) for marshseedless. EAF2F.3 and EAF2M.3 of foster and marshseedless at the dose of 10 mg/kg p.o. showed anxiolytic activity, which was statistically equivalent to the standard drug (Diazepam, 2mg/kg, p.o). EAF2.3 of foster and marshseedless were again subjected to column chromatography and yielded four (EAF2F.3.1-EAF2F.3.4) and four (EAF2M.3.1-EAF2M.3.4) sub-fractions of foster and marshseedless and evaluated for anti-anxiety activity. EAF2F.3.4 and EAF2M.3.4 at the dose of 10 mg/kg p.o. showed anxiolytic activity. Preliminary phytochemical screening of EAF2F.3.4 and EAF2M.3.4 showed the presence of flavonoids. Further studies are in progress to find out the active isolated compounds from bioactive fractions. Keywords: Citrus paradisi; Foster; Marshseedless; Anti-anxiety activity; Diazepam; Elevated plus maze.