Abstract: The present study investigated the anxiolytic, antidepressant and antistress actions of the aqueous extract of Cinnamomum tamala (CT) leaves in rats. CT (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily for 7 days and the results were compared by those elicited by lorazepam (1 mg/kg, p.o), imipramine (10 mg/kg, p.o),W.sominfera (100 mg/kg, p.o) for anxiolytic, antidepressant and antistress studies respectively. All these standard drugs were administered once, 30 min prior to the tests. Results were analyzed by One-way ANOVA followed by Newman-Keuls Multiple Comparison Test. P<0.05 were considered significant as compared to control. Among the different doses selected for study, the dose of 400 mg/Kg was found to be effective for anxiolytic, antidepressant and antistress actions. CT at 400mg/Kg induced an anxiolytic effect, comparable to that produced by lorazepam, in the elevated plus-maze, open field and social interaction …show more content…
The animals were then fasted for 24 h before the application of stress. Lastly, rats were restrained by wrapping them with iron net and immersing them vertically to the level of xiphoid process in a water bath maintained at 200 C. At the end of experiment, 5 ml of blood was collected into micro centrifuge tubes containing heparin (10 µL, 1000 IU/ml) by cardiac puncture by anaesthetizing animals with diethyl ether. All animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Then, their stomachs were removed and slightly inflated by injection of 15% formalin solution for 10 minutes. Subsequently, the stomachs were incised along the greater curvature and ulcer scoring was done using the dissecting microscope with a square grid eye piece (Blois, 1958). The isolated stomachs were kept in formalin solution (15%) and then sent to the pathologist for histopathological observation and comments. Adrenal glands were also taken out and weights were