Toxicity Assessment and Anxiolytic Properties of Methanol Stem Bark Extract from Khaya senegalensis in Wistar Rats

Background and Objective: Mental illnesses such as anxiety are characterized by impairment in cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior and are predisposed by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. Khaya senegalensis is reported to have a wide variety of medicinal uses such as in diarrhea, bacterial infections, helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis, diabetes and cancer. This study evaluated the anxiolytic effect of methanol stem bark extract of Khaya senegalensis in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity studies were conducted using Lorke’s Method. After which thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups of six each, group 1 and 5 received distilled water and diazepam, respectively as control groups and 2nd to 4th group received graded doses of methanol stem bark extract of Khaya senegalensis for anxiety studies using Hole-board Test and Elevated Plus-Maze. Results: The extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the number of entries into open arms and the time spent there in the Elevated Plus-Maze Test and increased the number of head dips in the Hole-board Test. Conclusion: This study revealed that the methanol stem bark extract of khaya senegalensis is practically nontoxic and also demonstrated significant and dose-dependent anxiolytic activities in Wistar rats.