Study on anxiolytic activity of the instant asparagus powder in rats

Objective:To study anxiolytic activity of the instant asparagus powder. Methods:70 healthy SpragueDawley male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups according to their weight for daily intragastric administration of drugs:the instant asparagus powder low-dose (IAP-l 0.5g/kg) , medium-dose (IAP-m 1.0g/kg) , high-dose (IAP-h 2.0g/kg) , the positive Caseinate Hydrolyzate group (CTH 30mg/kg) , Diazepam control group (DZP 3mg/kg) and normal control group. In this test, adopting the model of chronic emotional stress, the effect of anti-anxiety of the instant asparagus powder on the behavior and endocrine level was observed. Results:The results of IAP behavior showed the instant asparagus powder low-dose group and medium-dose group had anxiolytic trend, while comparing with the normal control group in decreasing the exploration and preening behavior times of the anxiety animals, but the statistical results had no significant differences (p>0.05) . The results of IAP endocrine level showed that on the anxiety model, the instant asparagus powder low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose could obviously increase the concentrations of 5-HT and Dopamine in rats' serum (p<0.05) and also obviously decrease the concentrations of Cortisol, Epinephrine and Noradrenaline in rats' serum (p<0.05) . The instant asparagus powder that were given dose could obviously decrease the the locomotor activity times of rats at two points of 15 min and 60min (p<0.05) . Conclusion:The instant asparagus powder had obvious anti-anxiety activity.