157 Scholars Academic Journal of Pharmacy (SAJP) ISSN 2320-4206 (Online) Sch. Acad. J. Pharm., 2015; 4(3): 157-163 ISSN 2347-9531 (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) www.saspublisher.com Research Article Effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Psidium guajava Linn. on L-arginine induced obsessive compulsive disorder in mice Krishna Mohan Chinnala * , Swetha Jukanti, Madhan Mohan Elsani Department of Pharmacology, St. John college of Pharmacy, Yellapur, Warangal, Telangana, India - 506371. *Corresponding author Dr. Krishna Mohan Chinnala Email: drchinnala@gmail.com Abstract: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a high-prevalence psychiatric disorder affecting 2–5% of the population. It is a type of anxiety disorder in which people suffer from recurrent, unwanted thoughts or ideas (obsessions), engage in repetitive, irrational behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) or both. Although its pathophysiology remains unclear, current evidence implicates contributions of the serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems and a neural circuitry that includes the orbitofrontal cortex, the thalamus and the striatum. In this present research work the pharmacological effect of ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava Linn.(EEPG) against L- arginine induced obsessions were evaluated along with in-vitro studies like estimation of serotonin and dopamine. From the results we found that the EEPG shown significant (p<0.05 - p<0.01) improvement in behavioral parameters viz. marble burying behavior, locomotion and memory retention. It is also identified that the EEPG treated groups had shown the significant (p<0.01 and p<0.05) increase in levels of dopamine and serotonin which may be responsible for behavioral functions. Keywords: OCD, Marble burying behavior, Psidium guajava and Anxiety. INTRODUCTION Anxiety is implicated in a number of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, panic attacks, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety disorders affect women twice as frequently as they do men. Many studies shown that people with depression often experience symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety classified into various types such as Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), Panic disorder, Phobias, Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [1]. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) often is hard to distinguish from panic disorder, common anxiety disorders, or social phobia because the symptoms are often similar and they often cross over between the disorders. Panic disorder is another type of generalized anxiety disorder that often co-exists with depression. Panic disorder affects 6 million Americans every year, most often young adults. Panic disorder involves the sudden onset of overwhelming fear and terror. Phobic disorder is an unreasonable or irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger. If people with phobias can't avoid what they fear, then it immediately results in a marked anxiety response. Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a psychological condition that causes an overwhelming fear of situations that require interacting with another person or performing in front of others. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) happens after exposure to a traumatic event. It may be an event the person witnessed, or a situation in which the person was confronted with a threat of death or serious injury to himself or others. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder in which people suffer from recurrent, unwanted thoughts or ideas (obsessions); engage in repetitive, irrational behaviors or mental acts (compulsions); or both [2]. Obsessions are unwanted, recurrent, and disturbing thoughts which the person cannot suppress and which can cause overwhelming anxiety [3]. A minority are regarded as over-valued ideas and rarely, delusions [4].