Plant-based Bioactive Compounds for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders - A Comprehensive Review

Anxiety is a common disorder characterized by excessive fear, tension, and physical symptoms, such as sweating and palpitations. There are approximately 16.6 % of patients worldwide affected by anxiety disorders, which have been classified as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessivecompulsive disorder, and phobias. The amygdala plays a central role in regulating fear, anxiety, and aggression, particularly when influenced by trauma or heredity, which can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Another contributing factor is oxidative stress, characterized by reduced antioxidant levels and increased cellular damage. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, are critical in controlling anxiety. Anxiety also usually involves imbalances, in particular, low levels of serotonin and high norepinephrine. N-Methyl-D-aspartate and Cholecystokinin brain receptors are involved in long-term fear memory encoding, suggesting potential new targets for treating this condition. Although conventional pharmacological treatments such as benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective, they are often associated with side effects, dependency, and limited long-term efficacy. In recent years, plant-based bioactive compounds have gained attention as potential alternatives or adjunct therapies for managing anxiety disorders, and they act in Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid modulation and monoamine regulation. Anxiety can be treated through herbal medicine using ethnopharmacology.