COMPARATIVE ANTI-ANXIETY POTENTIAL OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF VITEX NEGUNDO LINN.

Vitex negundo, commonly called Nirgundi, is one of the widely investigated medicinal plants of India. The present study were planned to compare different parts, i.e. leaves, stems and roots of V. negundo for antianxiety activity using elevated plus maze model. Petroleum ether (60 - 80 degrees C), chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts of these parts were prepared and evaluated for anti-anxiety activity. Among the different parts compared, only the roots showed significant anti-anxiety activity. Chloroform (400 mg/kg) and ethanol (100 mg/kg) extracts of the roots showed maximum significant antianxiety activity, compared to that of diazepam (2 mg/kg).