Cuscuta reflexa (Aftimoon) is a plant belonging to the Cuscutaceae family of plants. This family of plants contains the genus of plants belonging to the morning glory group of parasitic plants (Cuscuta). Colloquially the plant is known as Aftimoon in unani (arabic) medicine. The plant grows at high altitudes in mountainous regions and it is used in traditional medicine for a variety of mental disorders including melancholia, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Evidence suggests that Aftimoon may have some beneficial properties against the development of anxiety. For example, in one study researchers administered Aftimoon extracts to mice and then exposed the mice to experimental conditions designed to cause anxious behaviour. The results of the study showed that the mice that were administered Aftimoon were significantly protected from the development of anxious behaviour compared to control animals who did not receive the herb. Aftimoon may therefore confer anxiolytic properties in animals.
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