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Behavioral effects of Citrus limon and Punica granatum combinations in rats

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Abstract

Dietary supplements are becoming more influential as viable treatment for common chronic diseases and to promote normal development and functions of all system including brain. Disorders like anxiety and depression may be managed through healthier variations is dietary pattern, since there are indications that diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins diminish anxiety and depression. Hence this investigation was planned to assess the behavioral effects of Citrus limon and Punica granatum in two combination doses i.e. 0.4 + 5 ml/kg and 0.2 + 8 ml/kg C. limon and P. granatum respectively in rats. Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects were explicitly judged twice during 15 days using forced swimming and open field tests and elevated plus maze. In open field test C. limon and P. granatum showed increase in distance travelled, number of central entries and number of rearing’s at 0.4 + 5 ml/kg combination, in the elevated plus maze, number of open arm entries were found to be augmented and in forced swimming test, there was decline in duration of immobility and rise in duration of climbing at both combinations i.e. 0.4 + 5 ml/kg and 0.2 + 8 ml/kg C. limon and P. granatum. These results suggest that C. limon and P. granatum at 0.4 + 5 ml/kg combination have anxiolytic and antidepressant effect.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Department of Pharmacology for providing facilities to conduct the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Azra Riaz & Rafeeq Alam Khan

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  1. Azra Riaz
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  2. Rafeeq Alam Khan
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Correspondence to Rafeeq Alam Khan.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

Dr. AR conducted the whole study, collected and analyzed the data, created initial draft of the manuscript. Dr. RAK commented on the study design, revised all subsequent drafts and finalized the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Riaz, A., Khan, R.A. Behavioral effects of Citrus limon and Punica granatum combinations in rats. Metab Brain Dis 32, 123–131 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9884-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9884-0

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