An Epidemiological Survey on the Use and Abuse of Antianxiety Drugs among Beijing Residents.

A systematic field survey of 6,567 urban and rural residents out of 3.000 households, through cluster sampling among Beijing residents, was collaborativelv conducted. The results reveal that benzodiazepine has been widely prescribed and its rate of usage for 1 year is 61.82%. whereas rate of de-

Evaluation of the anxiolytic effect of the methanol stem extracts of Cissus quadrangularis

Objective:To investigate the potentials of the stem of Cissus quadrangularis(C.quadrangularis)in the control of anxiety and related motor coordination effects in mice using experimental models.Methods:The methanol extract of the stem of C.quadrangularis was studied in mice using elevated plus maze,hole board,open field and stair case tests.Acute toxicity and phytochemical analysis were also carried out.Results:The methanol extract(100,200,300 and 400 mg/kg)exhibited significant anxiolytic effects,as evident by significant(P<0.05)increase in the number of crossings at 100,200 and 300 mg/kg dose and number of rearing at 200,300 and 400 mg/kg dose in open field behavior test.Time spent in the open arms and number of entrances in the open arms increased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01)at the dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg in elevated plus maze test.Post hoc analysis showed that C.quadrangularis at the dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg significantly(P<0.05)increased the number of steps taken and number of head dips.Significant(P<0.05)reduction in time duration on the bar and number of rearing were observed at the dose of 200,300 and 400 mg/kg.The acute toxicity test revealed an oral LD_(50)above 5000 mg/kg,while phytochemical studies showed the presence of phytosterols,terpenoids,saponins,flavanoids,tannins,carbohydrates and aminoacids.Conclusions:The stem extracts of C.quadrangularis is anxiolytic in nature,which contribute to its use in traditional medicine as anxiolytic.