Summary

Anxiolytic-like Behavioral Changes Induced by Morinda citrifolia L. Fruit (Noni) in Mice

Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) from the family Rubiaceae has been used for broad range of therapeutic effects. The competitive GABA_A receptor-binding assay indicated that the presence of competitive ligand(s) in methanolic extract and its partitions, which may bind to the GABA_Areceptor as an agonist, and thus could induce anxiolytic effect. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the methanolic extract and its partitions of the fruit of Noni produces anxiolytic-like actions by using experimental paradigms of anxiety (light dark and elevated plus-maze) in comparison with a known anxiolytic, diazepam. Male mice were either orally administered with the noni extract/its partitions or the positive control diazepam. Pretreatment of BuOH partition markedly increased the percentage time spent on and the number of entries into the open arms of the elevated plus-maze (EPM) in dose of 2 g/kg p.o. Neither diazepam nor the noni extract/its partitions produced change in locomotion in the open field and EPM test. These results indicate that BuOH partition is an effective anxiolytic agent, and suggest that the anxiolytic-like activities of this plant are could be mediated via the GABAergic system.

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