Pharmacological and Phytochemical Evaluation of Calendula officinalis Linn. For Anti-Anxiety Activity

The Plant Calendula officinalis Linn. (Asteraceae), traditionally was found to be used in the treatment of anxiety. Despite a long tradition of use, no systematic pharmacological and phytochemical work has been carried out on this plant. Thus, C. officinalis was subjected to preliminary anti-anxiety screening studies, with a view to ascertain the truth on evidence of its traditional use as anti-anxiety. In the present study, aerial parts of the plant were extracted using solvents in the order of increasing polarity, viz., petroleum ether (60–80°C), chloroform, methanol and distilled water. Elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to evaluate the anti anxiety activity on all the crude extracts on mice. Methanolic extract of C. officinalis at the dose of 100 mg/kg, p.o. was found significant when compared to diazepam, (2mg/kg). Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids and polyphenols therefore specific methods are used to extract the total alkaloids and polyphenols fractions from the plant material and methanol extract. Polyphenol fraction at the dose of 50 mg/kg, p.o. showed significant anti-anxiety activity.