Evaluation of Anti-stress Activity of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. Lamiaceae Methanol Leaves Extract on Wistar Albino Rats

Aims: The present study was aimed to determine the in-vivo anti-stress activity of Orthosiphon stamineus methanolic leaves extract using Wistar albino rats.

Methodology: In forced swimming endurance stress test and chronic cold restraint stress test Wistar albino rats of either sex was randomly divided into five groups of four animals each. Methanolic leaves extract of Orthosiphon stamineus (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o) was administered for 7 days for swimming stress method, whereas 10 days for cold stress method and last day, blood was collected by retro-orbital route to estimate blood cell count and biochemical parameters. to assess the anti-stress activity in Wistar albino rats. Withania somnifera (WS) (100 mg/kg p.o) was selected as reference standard.

Results: Results are expressed as mean ± SEM and data was analysed by Student’s t-test. From the results, it is found that methanol extract of Orthosiphon stamineus have significantly increase RBC, WBC, DLC count and other biochemical parameters in both forced swimming endurance and chronic cold restraint test. Furthermore, forced swimming stress is more significant when compared to cold restraint stress.

Conclusion: The results indicate that methanolic leaves extract of Orthosiphon stamineus possesses significant anti-stress activity.