Abstract

Anxiety is an emotional state caused by the perception of real or perceived danger that threatens the security of an individual. Benzodiazepines are first line approach in the management of anxiety related disorders. However, their inherent side effects are an inducement to the search for newer safe anxiolytic drug. In the present study, Vanda tessellata has been investigated for its anxiolytic activity in mice. The anxiolytic activity was screened by using two well validated methods namely elevated plus maze and open field test. Vanda tessellata extract has shown a dose-dependent anxiolytic effect similar to the diazepam in animal model of anxiety as revealed by a significant increase in the time spent in open arms of the elevated plus maze and significant increase of ambulatory behavior in open field test, the results of the present study has identified a novel anxiolytic compound.