A systematic updated review of scientifically tested selected plants used for anxiety disorders

Abstract

The aim of this review is to provide a summary on multidisciplinary scientific information obtained from medicinal plants used worldwide to treat anxiety, focusing on pharmacological and clinical studies. The bibliographical investigation was carried out by consulting five peer-reviewed worldwide database publications for references, and patents. The information gathered on plants with attributed anxiolytic properties are presented as follows: (1) plant extracts with anxiolytic properties evaluated in animal models; (2) plants with clinical trials; (3) identified active compounds in plants that have been assayed in animal models; (4) mechanism of action of anxiolytic plant extracts and compounds; and (5) registered patents for anxiolytic plant preparations. We recorded 112 plant species belonging to 63 botanical families for which the anxiolytic properties had been tested in animal models. Eleven plant species to treat general anxiety disorders as well as eleven species to treat anxiety-associated conditions, had been documented by clinical trials. Thirty-three registers for active compounds belonging to five general types of secondary metabolites had also been recorded. The mechanism of action at the central nervous system level had been determined in 33 plant species, either in their extracts or isolated compounds. Forty-seven patent registrations for plant preparations to be used for the treatment of anxiety were included.