Aim:The aim of the current study is to evaluate anti-anxiety and potentiating effect of Thiocolchicoside in animal models of anxiety.

Methodology: A total of 24 (n=24) Swiss albino mice were procured, and they were divided into four groups of six mice in each. First group of mice (control) received 10 ml/kg-Normal Saline, second group (standard) received 2.0 mg/kg-Diazepam, test-1 received 1 mg/kg-Thiocolchicoside and test-2 received Thiocolchicoside (1mg/kg) + Diazepam (2mg/kg) for seven days per orally. All the mice were evaluated for anti-anxiety activity by Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) 60 minutes after the oral drug administration of drugs on day 1, 3 and 7 and later after a washout period of one month, same four groups of mice were screened by Light and Dark Arena (LDA) model after receiving respective drugs.

Results: One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s Kramer test were applied for inter group comparison and correlation test for intra-group comparison. Results are expressed in mean ± SEM. In EPM, time spent in open arm for the control, standard, test- 1 and test-2 were 64.5±25.81, 128.33±17.6, 138±10.56 and 168.33±22.35 seconds respectively. There is statistically significant difference between standard (P=0.05), test-1 (P=0.05) and test-2 (P=0.03) when compared with control group. Similarly, time spent in closed arm for the control, standard, test-1 and test-2 were 238.83±20.41, 171.67± 17.6, 162±10.56 and 131.67±22.35 seconds respectively. In this, test-2 is statistically significant from the control group (P=0.05). The number of entries in the open arm for the control group, standard group, test-1 and test-2 were 3.5±1.64, 13.17±7.44, 21 ± 4.05 and 13.33 ± 2.16 respectively. There is statistically significant difference between standard (P=0.03), test-1 (P=0.02) and test-2 (P=0.03) with control. Similarly, number of entries to closed arm for the control, standard, test-1 and test-2 were 9.5±3.62, 16.33 ± 5.65, 16.33 ± 4.23 and 8.17 ± 1.72 respectively. The values obtained for the standard, test-1 and test-2 were not statistically significant (P=0.8). In LDA, time spent in light arena for the control, standard, test-1 and test-2 were 106.83±18.21, 163.5±21.66, 105.33 ± 11.57 and 125.17 ± 16.35 seconds respectively. Statistically significant difference between the control and the standard group (P=0.05) is noted. Time spent in dark arena for the control, standard, test-1 and test-2 were 193.17±18.21, 136.5±11.66, 194.67±15.57 and 174.83±16.35 seconds respectively. Here only standard group is statistically significant when compared with control (P=0.05). The number of entries in the light arena for the control, standard, test-1 and test-2 were 11.67 ± 1.37, 13.17 ± 2.48, 12 ± 2.61 and 11.67 ± 1.03 respectively. The number of entries in the dark arena for the control, standard, test-1 and test-2 were 12.17 ± 1.47, 13.17 ± 2.93, 11.83 ± 2.23 and 11 ± 0.89 respectively. With regard to number of entries in the light and dark arena there was no statistical significant difference between the groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The study result clearly showed that Thiocolchicoside (1 mg/kg) has anti anxiety and additional potentiating effect when combined with diazepam in EPM and LDA models.