Curative Effects of Dhatryadi ghrita Bioactive Extracts on Ethanol Withdrawal Syndrome in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome leads to irritability, aggressiveness, body posture and motor abnormalities, sensory hyper reactivity and changes in various enzyme levels. Dhatryadi ghrita penetrates the blood- brain barrier to decrease the cravings for alcohol in this syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of Dhatryadi ghrita on alcohol withdrawal syndrome in Wistar rats. Material & Methods: A liquid diet with 7.2%, v/v ethanol was administered to the Wistar rats for 21 days. Control group animals received saline and normal diet. After alcohol withdrawal, rats were examined at 6th and 24th hour for anxiety and hyper locomotor activity as major withdrawal signs. Anxiety due to ethanol withdrawal was tested with the help of elevated plus maze, light and dark models. The hyper locomotor activity was assessed using Actophotometer. The hepatic enzymes level was determined with the help of the Bio-chemical Analyzer. Ghrita extract (100, 200,300 mg/kg, oral) were administered to different groups and diazepam as standard (2 mg/kg, i.p) were administered to the treatment group animals 30 minutes before alcohol withdrawal estimation. Drug treatment was administered 30 minutes before the second observation at the 24th hour. Results: Findings from the present study revealed that Ghrita extract treatment at doses 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, oral in ethanol-dependent rats had a significant protective effect on signs and symptoms of ethanol withdrawal in alcohol-dependent rats. Conclusion: Dhatryadi extract acts effectively for the treatment of alcohol abstinence syndrome. The extract treat¬ment has beneficial effects on ethanol withdrawal depressive-like behavior in rats.