Summary

Anxiolytic Effect of Extracts from Mimosa pudica L.

The present work evaluated the anxiolytic activity of an aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica L. (Mimosaceae) as well as its fractionations using the elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice as a model of anxiety. The aqueous extract of MP markedly increased number of entrance and time spent on the open arm, indicating anxiolytic-like activity with a dose-dependent manner. Among fractionations (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and remaining aqueous fraction), only remaining aqueous fraction was able to display anxiolytic activity on EPM-exposed mice. Neither aqueous extract of MP nor remaining aqueous fraction influenced the response to thiopental-induced hypnosis except at the highest tested dose of remaining aqueous fraction. These results demonstrate that MP extract possesses anxiolytic-like activity without marked hypnotic effect and that phytochemical work need to be done to isolate and identify bioactive compounds from remaining aqueous fraction.

Keywords: Mimosa pudica, anxiolytic, bio-guided, elevated plus maze.