Investigation of the anxiolytic effects of naringenin, a component of Mentha aquatica, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.

This was a prospective, randomized, between-subjects experimental study to investigate the anxiolytic effects of naringenin, a component of mentha aquatica, and its potential interaction with the benzodiazepine binding site on the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor in the rat. Fifty-five rats were assigned to one of 5 groups with 11 rats per group: control, naringenin, midazolam, midazolam with naringenin, and flumazenil with naringenin. The elevated plus maze measured the behavioral components of anxiety and motor movements. Our data suggest that naringenin does not produce anxiolysis by modulation of the GABAA receptor; however, the findings indicate that naringenin decreases motor movements (P < .05).