The effects of Garum Armoricum (R) (GA) on elevated-plus maze and conditioned light extinction tests in rats

Garum Armoricum ®(GA), a compound rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, free amino acids, small peptides, vitamins and minerals was evaluated on two fear-related assays in rats. GA and diazepam (DZP) increased entries into open arms relative to placebo, as well as percentage of open arm entries in the elevated plus-maze test. In a similar fashion, all drugged groups spent more time inside the open arms and less time inside the enclosed arms. After a two-day period of conditioned avoidance learning of an aversive bright light, GA and vehicle groups successfully discriminated the active from the inactive lever. On the initial day of acquisition, GA and piracetam (PIR) groups achieved successful discrimination though the control group did not. These results indicate that GA may have anxiolytic-like effects without causing learning deficiencies. These psychotropic properties of GA may be due to the synergistic action of its active constituents.