The Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effect of Tanacetum polycephalum in the Pentylenetetrazole Kindled Rats

Epilepsy one the most prevalent neurological illness which affects behavioral statuses like anxiety, depression and balance. Based on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Tanacetum polycephalum, its effect on anxiety and depression caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindling in rats was investigated.

In order to prepare the required extract, aerial part of the Tanacetum was powdered (100 g) and macerated in 1 L of ethanol (80%) for 24 h. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to four groups: PTZ (sub-threshold dose 35 mg/kg for one month, intraperitoneal (i.p)), PTZ + phenobarbital (30 mg/kg, i.p), PTZ + Tanacetum extract (300 mg/kg, i.p), and PTZ + Tanacetum extract (600 mg/kg, i.p). Elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swim test (FST) and rotarod test were employed to assess the anxiety parameters, antidepressant and balance potential, respectively.

Tanacetum extract administered at the doses of 300, and 600 mg/kg, exert antidepressant-like activity in the FST test and reduced the immobility time. In the EPM test, Tanacetum extract at the same doses produced anxiolytic-like effects. Also, the rats which received Tanacetum extract showed a significant improvement in the rotarod test in contrast to the PTZ group.

The finding from current study showed that Tanacetum could ameliorate neurobehavioral parameters of anxiety and depression in the PTZ-kindled rats.