ANTI-ANXIETY EFFECT OF ARONIA MELANOCARPA FRUIT JUICE ADMINISTERED SUBCHRONICALLY TO RATS

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) on anxiety in male Wistar rats. AMFJ was administered orally for periods of 7, 14, 21 and 30 days at doses of 2.5, 5 and 10 ml/kg. The state of anxiety was evaluated using the elevated plus-maze test. For the periods of 7 and 14 days, AMFJ induced a dose-dependent tendency to increase the number of entries into the open arms, the time spent there, the ratio of open arm entries/total entries, and the ratio of time spent in the open arms/total time. For the 21- and 30-day treatment periods, the anti-anxiety effect of AMFJ at doses of 2.5 and 5 mL/kg was not statistically significant, while the dose of 10 mL/kg significantly increased the number of entries into the open arms, the time spent there and the ratio of open/total arm entries, and decreased the time spent in the closed arms in comparison with the saline-treated controls. The findings from the present study suggested a dose- and time-dependent anti-anxiety effect of AMFJ. As polyphenols are the main bioactive substances in the juice, we could conclude that most probably they are responsible for the anti-anxiety effect of AMFJ applied subchronically to rats.