Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions, and current pharmacotherapies are often limited by adverse effects. The present study evaluated the anxiolytic-like activity of the chloroform (CHF) and ethyl acetate (EAF) fractions of Aerva sanguinolenta in Swiss albino mice. Acute oral toxicity studies demonstrated that both fractions were safe up to 4000 mg/kg. Anxiolytic activity was assessed using the hole-board test, open field test, and elevated plus maze test, with diazepam as the standard drug. Both CHF and EAF produced significant, dose-dependent anxiolytic-like effects across behavioral models, although their efficacy was lower than diazepam. These findings provide the first experimental evidence supporting the anxiolytic potential of A. sanguinolenta and justify further mechanistic investigations to identify the active constituents involved.




