There is some evidence in traditional medicine for the effectiveness of Thymus vulgaris ( bǎi lǐ xiāng) in the treatment of anxiety in humans. The elevated plus-maze (EPM) has broadly been used to investigate anxiolytic and anxiogenic compounds. The present study investigated the effects of extract of T. vulgaris on rat behavior in the EPM. In the present study, the data were obtained from male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into four groups: saline group and T. vulgaris groups (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg infusion for 7 days by feeding). During the test period, the total distance covered by animals, the number of open- and closed-arm entries, and the time spent in open and closed arms of the EPM were recorded. T. vulgaris increased open-arm exploration and open-arm entry in the EPM, whereas extract of this plant has no effects on the total distance covered by animals and the number of closed-arm entries. The results of the present experiment indicate that T. vulgaris may have an anxiolytic profile in rat behavior in the EPM test, which is not influenced by the locomotor activity. Further research is required to determine the mechanisms by which T. vulgaris extract exerts an anxiolytic effect in rats.

Neurological disorders affect the nervous system. Biochemical, structural, or electrical abnormalities in the spinal cord, brain, or other nerves lead to different symptoms, including muscle weakness, paralysis, poor coordination, seizures, loss of sensation, and pain. There are many recognized neurological diseases, like epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia 2 (ARCA2), Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), and spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 9 (SCAR9). Different agents, such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), exert neuroprotective effects against neuronal damage. Online databases, such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed/MEDLINE were systematically searched until December 2020 using keywords, including review, neurological disorders, and CoQ10. CoQ10 is endogenously produced in the body and also can be found in supplements or foods. CoQ10 has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and plays a role in energy production and mitochondria stabilization, which are mechanisms, by which CoQ10 exerts its neuroprotective effects. Thus, in this review, we discussed the association between CoQ10 and neurological diseases, including AD, depression, MS, epilepsy, PD, LHON, ARCA2, SCAR9, and stroke. In addition, new therapeutic targets were introduced for the next drug discoveries.