Assessment of brain dopamine levels to evaluate the role of Tylophora indica ethanolic extract on alcohol induced anxiety in Wistar albino rats

Background: Alcohol induced health problems have tormented the world population since time immemorial. This research work was done to study the therapeutic role of Tylophora indica ethanolic extract on alcohol induced anxiety in Wistar albino rats. Method: Wistar albino rats were administered 20% alcohol, orally twice a day for 30 days. The protective role of Tylophora indica ethanolic extract was evaluated by administering it at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight orally in alcohol treated animals for 30 days. Anxiety was assessed by elevated plus maze and light dark arena tests. After that, animals were sacrificed and brains were dissected out, to measure the levels of dopamine. To pinpoint the active constituent responsible for the anxiolytic activity, Tylophora indica ethanolic extract was subjected to HPLC-LCMS analysis. Results: Elevated plus maze and light dark arena tests showed that alcohol induced anxiety can be prevented by Tylophora indica ethanolic extract in Wistar albino rats. There was a significant increase in the levels of Dopamine in the brains of rats, which received Tylophora indica. From the HPLC-LCMS analysis report it is postulated that Tylophorinidine is the active constituent responsible for the anxiolytic activity of Tylophora indica ethanolic extract. Conclusion: Tylophora indica can mitigate the deleterious effect of alcohol in CNS.