Fear and Anxiety Behaviour In Mice Was Attenuated Following Chronic  Consumption of Musa paradisiaca L. (Musaceae): http://www.doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v1i4.6

Peter Erigbali; Eme Osim; Ofem Ofem

Authors

Peter Erigbali Department of Physiology, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Eme Osim Department of Physiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Ofem Ofem Department of Physiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Keywords:

Plantain,, Serotonin,, 5-Hydroxytryptophan,, Fear,, Anxiety.

Abstract

Emotions are delicate phenomenon that can affect the whole livelihood, yet to control them physiologically is quite difficult perhaps owing to the paucity in connections between limbic system and neocortex. Many people have devised ways such as consumption of alcohol and hard drugs, to help them control their emotions. Research findings have shown the link between diet and some emotions/neurobehaviour. We investigated the effect of consumption of unripe plantain on fear and anxiety behaviour. Three groups of mice were fed with diet containing 100%, 50% and 0% (control) unripe plantain. Fear and anxiety behaviour was studied using the Light/Dark Transition Box and Elevated Plus Maze tests. The transitions in the light/dark chambers was not significantly (p > 0.05) different among the groups. The light chamber duration of the 100% and 50% plantain diet groups was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than control. Stretch attend postures were lower in 100% and 50% plantain diet groups compared to control. In the Elevated Plus Maze
test, frequencies of open arm entry for the 100% and 50% plantain groups were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than control. The difference in open arm entries between 100% and 50% plantain diet groups was significant. The results suggest that consumption of plantain diet reduced fear and anxiety behaviour in mice. A preliminary investigation of the concentration of serotonin in the
brains of the mice using High Performance Liquid Chromatography shows that serotonin is significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the 100% plantain diet group than control.

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