Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of encapsulated flax seed oil alone and as an adjuvant in Swiss Albino mice

Background: Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural components with displeasing feeling of fear and concern. Among all the antianxiety drugs benzodiazepines are commonly employed drugs for the treatment but they do have limitations. Considering the high prevalence of anxiety disorders and lack of an ideal anxiolytic drug, search for better anxiolytic drugs continue. Medicinal plants are an inexhaustible source and continue to get explored in the search for new drugs.Methods: Antianxiety activity of Flax seed oil was evaluated in mice using Light-Dark Arena model and Elevated Plus Maze model. Encapsulated Flax seed oil (10ml/kg and 20ml/kg), Diazepam (1mg/kg), Normal saline (10ml/kg) and combination of Encapsulated Flax seed oil and Diazepam (10ml/kg + 1mg/kg) were given orally to the randomly divided 5 groups of 6 animals each. Number of entries and time spent in light arena of Light-Dark Arena model and in open arm of Elevated Plus Maze model were noted and compared among the 5 groups. Observations were analysed using ANOVA and Post hoc Tukey’s test.Results: Encapsulated Flax seed oil alone as well as an adjuvant to Diazepam showed significantly increased number of entries and time spent in light arena of Light-Dark Arena model (<0.05). It also showed significantly (<0.05) increased time spent but not number of entries in open arm of Elevated Plus Maze model.Conclusions: Encapsulated Flax seed oil showed anxiolytic property in Light-Dark arena model and Elevated plus maze model.