Vigna Unguiculata as an Anxiolytic Agent: Evidence from Animal Model Studies
Abstract
Anxiety has spread worldwide and is only getting worse, posing a serious threat to mental health and general well-being. If anxiety is not managed, it can result in severe depression and other health issues. The current study intends to investigate the pharmacological effects of Vigna unguiculata, frequently referred to as white beans, on anxiety models in rodents using albino mice of both genders. The albino mice were administered two doses of white beans over the course of 60 days: 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg. Based on the various doses, the mice were divided into two treatment groups, and a control group was added for comparison. The evaluations, which used a variety of instruments to measure anxiety-like behaviors, were conducted at regular intervals on days 0, 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60. These included the cage-crossing apparatus, head dip apparatus, open field apparatus, elevated plus maze, and light and dark apparatus. These instruments enable the observation and measurement of anxiety-related behaviors displayed by mice under various test situations. According to the research findings, both doses of white beans have a considerable ability to lessen the anxiety-like behaviors of albino mice. However, compared with the 500 mg/kg dose, the larger dose of 1000 mg/kg seemed to possess greater anxiolytic potential. This shows that the anxiolytic effects of white beans are dose-dependent. The potent anxiolytic qualities of white beans are thought to be influenced by substances such as tryptophan, glutamic acid, and methionine. The findings of this experimental study indicate Vigna unguiculata (white beans) as a promising natural treatment option for anxiety management. The anxiolytic responses of albino mice provide evidence in favor of researching white beans as a treatment for easing anxiety symptoms in people. The research goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of white beans on anxiety and stress. White beans are a regular diet item that can easily incorporate and produce anxiolytic effects. This research is unique because it addresses a previously unexplored topic, and its primary objective is to raise public knowledge about the health advantages of white beans.
Keywords: anxiolytic effect, head dip apparatus, cage crossing, elevated plus maze apparatus, light and dark apparatus, open field apparatus, Vigna unguiculata, white beans.
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