The present study aimed to investigate the anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum (cumin) in healthy male albino mice. Furthermore, mechanism of action involve in their anxiolytic activity was also evaluated. Cuminum cyminum (C. cyminum) ethanolic extract were administered i.p in doses of 100, 200, 300 mg/kg to healthy mice. Diazepam 0.5 mg/kg was used as standard drug and normal saline as negative control. Anxiolytic activity of control, standard, C. cyminum were evaluated using Elevated plus maze and Light and Dark compartment test. C. cyminum extract at dose 200mg/kg had maximum anxiolytic effect by significant increase in percentage of open arm entries (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 34.60 ± 4.22, p value 0.04) and time spent in open arms (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 53.40 ± 26.18, p value 0.036) in elevated plus maze and significant increase in percentage of time spent (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 47.05 ± 5.47, p value 0.041). When pretreated with flumazenil (GABA receptor antagonist) C. cyminum (200mg/kg) had significant decrease in anxiolytic activity by significant decrease in percentage of open arm entries (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 7.08 ± 4.39, p value 0.000), time spent in open arms (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 4.00 ± 2.45, p value 0.046) in elevated plus maze, number of entries (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 2.20 ± 0.37, p value 0.000 and C. sativum mean ± SEM value 8.40 ± 1.40, p value 0.001) and percentage of time spent (C. cyminum mean ± SEM value 8.06 ± 2.99, p value 0.000) in light compartment of light and dark compartment test. It is concluded that ethanolic extracts of C. cyminum has anxiolytic activity and GABAA receptors in brain are involve in its anxiolytic action.

Keywords: Anxiolytics, Cuminum cyminum, GABA receptors, ethanolic extract.