GC-MS ANALYSIS AND ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF SKIMMIA ANQUETILIA OF KASHMIR REGION

Medicinal plants essential oils in aromatherapy, complementary medicine or in folk medicine, is known for a long time or is gaining importance as a significant alternative method for the treatment of various ailments. In the last few years a lot of scientific studies have been conducted to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of these natural compounds and their influence on the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study essential oil obtained from the Skimmia anquetilia leaves (Rutaceae) was subjected to chemical analysis and the oil was investigated for its anxiolytic and antidepressant effects on rats. Chemical analysis of the leaf oil (1.2%) by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) whereas, anxiolytic and antidepressant properties were evaluated by employing the social interaction test and hole board in rats. GC/MS studies of S. anquetilia oil indicated the presence of important anxiolytic phytoconstituents like linalool (10.085%), geranyl acetate (5.588%), geraniol (1.463%) and limonene (1.362%). The anxiolytic studies of SAO were conducted at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, body weight. The SAO significantly increased head-dipping counts and its duration in hole board test and anxiolytic effects in social interaction test. The results of in-vivo pharmacological studies are indicative that SAO has a wide range of anxiolytic potential.