Comparative Anxiolytic Potentials of Alprazolam and Zolpidem by In-vivo Studies

Kadiri Sunil Kumar^1*, P. Samba Siva Rao^2
1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Vijaya College of Pharmacy, Munaganoor, Hyderabad, Telangana-500070, India
²Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Vijaya College of Pharmacy, Munaganoor, Hyderabad, Telangana-500070, India

A B S T R A C T
The present study was designed to compare the anxiolytic efficacies of a benzodiazepine (Alprazolam) and a non-benzodiazepine (Zolpidem) in albino mice. Alprazolam (1mg/kg) in 2% acacia suspension and zolpidem (2mg/kg) in 2% acacia suspension, P.O. were used for the study. The control group animals are placed in the centre of the Elevated plus Maze apparatus one by one at an interval of 5 minutes and the preference of animals towards open and closed arms are noted for a period of 5 minutes. The same procedure was repeated for alprazolam and zolpidem treated groups of animals after one hour of administration of alprazolam (1mg/kg) P.O.and zolpidem (2mg/kg) P.O. The number of entries in open and closed arms and the time spent in open and closed arms are noted. In Light & dark Box transition test the parameters that are monitored are number of entries in light and dark box and the time spent in light and dark box for a period of 5 minutes. Zolpidem (2mg/kg) P.O. has shown more significant anxiolytic activity than alprazolam by increasing the time spent in open arm (160.3±1.15 sec) in comparision to the time spent in open arm (140.3±0.73 sec) in alprazolam treated mice in elevated plus maze model and by increasing the time spent by mice in light box (158±3.12 sec) in comparison to the time spent in light box (134.3±3.21 sec) in alprazolam treated mice in light and dark box apparatus. This indicates that zolpidem has higher anxiolytic potential than alprazolam. The specific agonistic affinity of zolpidem on benzodiazepine receptor may be responsible for the higher anxiolytic potential than alprazolam.
Keywords: Anxiolytic potential, alprazolam, zolpidem, elevated plus maze, light and dark box.