Anxiolytic‐like Effect of α‐Asarone in Mice

The effects of α‐asarone in four assays predictive of anxiolytic activity in male mice were studied, with diazepam as a positive anxiolytic control. The use of the elevated plus‐maze test revealed that diazepam (2 mg/kg) or α‐asarone (3.5 mg/kg) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of the time spent on open arms. In the light/dark transition test, as with 2 mg/kg diazepam, 7 mg/kg α‐asarone increased the time spent in the light area and the number of transitions between the two compartments. In the novel food consumption test, α‐asarone (3.5, 7 and 14 mg/kg) caused significant increases in food intake during 5 min as well as diazepam (0.5 mg/kg). In the marble burying test, α‐asarone also produced a significant inhibition of marble burying at doses of 14 and 28 mg/kg, as did diazepam (5 mg/kg). Thus, these findings indicated that α‐asarone exhibited an anxiolytic‐like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of the present findings to other species and behavioral paradigms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.