ANXIOLYTIC AND ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF PETAL OF CROCUS SATIVUS VAR. ‘CASHMERIANUS’

Crocus sativusvar. ‘cashmerianus’ (Iridaceae)is worldwide known as “Saffron” contains than volatile and aroma-containing compounds mainly terpenes, terpene alcohol, and their esters. The bitter taste and a hay-like fragrance of saffron are due to presence picrocrocin and safranal. Traditional anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of C. sativus var. ‘cashmerianus’ was evaluated using successive extracts in elevated plus maze test and forced swim test in rat sat doses level of50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/p.o., where as diazepam (1mg/kg) was used as standard drugs. Successive methanol and aqueous extracts of petals of C. sativus at a dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o. (1^st, 3^rd and 7^th day) were shows significant (*P <0.05) as like diazepam increased the percentage of time spent and arm entries in the open arms and decreased the closed arms entries and duration in closed arm in elevated plus maze. The results for antidepressant activity using forced swim test shown that the ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of petals of C. sativus var. cashmerianus at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly increased the climbing and swimming time, however decreased the immobility time as similar like imipramine. The results are shown good potential of petal of Crocus sativus var. ‘cashmerianus’ as anxiolytic and antidepressant like action.

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