Evaluation of anxiolytic effect of Medicago sativa in mice

Figures & data

Table 1.  Yield of different extracts of M. sativa.

Extracts	Yield (% w/w, dry weight basis)
Petroleum ether	1.88
Chloroform	2.62
Methanol	9.32
Aqueous	6.74

Table 2.  Results of phytochemical screening of various extracts of M. sativa.

Class of phytoconstituents	M. sativa
	Pet. ether extract	Chloroform extract	Methanol extract	Aqueous extract
Alkaloids	^−	^−	^−	+
Glycosides
Coumarins	^−	^−	^−	^−
Flavonoids	^−	^−	++	+
Saponins	^−	^−	^−	++
Sterols/steroids	^−	+	+	^−
Carbohydrates	^−	++	++	^−
Tannins/polyphenols	^−	^−	++	+
Proteins	^−	^−	^−	^−
Amino acids	^−	^−	+	+
Fats/oil	++	^−	^−	^−
Vit-C	^−	^−	+	^−

Table 3.  Effect of different extracts of M. sativa on mice using elevated plus-maze model.

Treatment	Dose (mg/kg)	Number of entries in open arms	Average time spent in open arms
Control	Vehicle	4.02 ± 0.53*	5.05 ± 0.61*
Diazepam (standard)	2	10.01 ± 0.46^#	16.45 ± 0.40^#
Petroleum ether extract	50	3.89 ± 0.53*	3.56 ± 0.45*
	100	3.98 ± 0.49*	3.80 ± 0.82*
	200	4.01 ± 0.66*	3.92 ± 0.65*
Chloroform extract	50	4.05 ± 0.86*	3.98 ± 0.55*
	100	4.09 ± 0.79*	4.02 ± 0.82*
	200	4.00 ± 0.89*	3.76 ± 0.69*
Methanol extract	50	7.05 ± 0.64*^#	10.01 ± 0.49*^#
	100	9.85 ± 0.82^#	16.20 ± 0.79^#
	200	5.59 ± 0.76*	4.05 ± 0.52*
Aqueous extract	50	3.90 ± 0.63*	3.75 ± 0.69*
	100	4.20 ± 0.96*	4.22 ± 0.56*
	200	4.02 ± 0.88*	4.50 ± 0.64*

All data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 10).

^#p < 0.05 vs. control; *p < 0.05 vs. standard.