Investigating The Anxiolytic Potential Of Helianthus Annuus L. Seeds: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

Anxiety can cause fear, dread, and unease. You can start to perspire, have tightness and agitation, and feel your heart pounding. Emotional anxiety is more common in women than in males during adolescence. The current research was based on the investigating the anxiolytic potential of helianthus annuus. seeds. Helianthus annuus, indigenous to Europe, possess an erect rough-hairy stem, reaching typical heights of 3 metres the common sunflower, is a large annual forb of the genus Helianthus grown as a crop for its edible oil and edible fruits (sunflower seeds). The seeds of Helianthus annuus (sunflower) were obtained from the local agriculture seeds store, at Haridwar, UK. The seeds were washed making dust-free and dried at room temperature or shade and extracted through Soxhlet apparatus using water solvent. After 72 hours of extraction, the extract was filtered-off using cotton plug and kept on rotatory evaporator for evaporation process. Albino rats of either sex weighing 130-150g were obtained from the Animal House, Gurukula Kangri Deemed University Haridwar (Uttarakhand). The animals were maintained in proper conditions, at room temperatures of 25±1°C with 12-hour light/dark cycle. All the rats were divided into 4 groups (n=6) i.e., group 1: Rats given normal saline daily, group 2 given Diazepam (4mg/kg, p. o.), group 3 given aqueous seeds extract of Helianthus annuus (ASHA) (100mg/kg, p. o.), and group 4 given aqueous seeds extract of Helianthus annuus (ASHA) (200mg/kg, p. o.) up to 21 days. The anxiolytic effect was evaluated through EPM, light-dark arena and actophotometer. In results, in all the models, hydroalcoholic seeds extract of Helianthus annuus significantly demonstrated anxiolytic potential in both the doses when compared to control. It significantly increased no. of entries and time spent in open arm/light arena. In conclusion, aqueous seeds extract of Helianthus annuus is significant anxiolytic herbal drug. It can be effectively used in the treatment of depression, mental agitation, and other neurological disorders after successfully evaluating mechanism of action of the seeds.