Anti-aggressive activity of a standardized extract of Marsilea minuta Linn. in rodent models of aggression.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate in vivo anti-aggressive potential of a standardized extract of Marsilea minuta Linn. (Marsileaceae). The standardized extract of Marsilea minuta was evaluated for its potential effects against defensive and offensive aggressive behavior models of rodents. Marsilea minuta extract was orally administered at three dose levels (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) once daily for 14 consecutive days as a suspension in polyethylene glycol (PEG), diazepam (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a standard anti-aggressive agent. Control group animals were given an equal volume of vehicle (10%, v/v, PEG suspension). Anti-aggressive activity was evaluated using the following validated models of aggression, viz.: foot shock-induced aggression, isolation-induced aggression and resident-intruder aggression, in rodents. As a result, Marsilea minuta extract showed dose dependant anti-aggressive activity in the aforementioned, validated models of aggression. This suggests that the extract from Marsilea minuta has a promising anti-aggressive activity qualitatively comparable to that of diazepam.