Objective:The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis mediates the endocrine response to stress in humans and animals. Under stress, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus produces corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), which is delivered to the anterior pituitary gland via the hypothalamic-hypophysial portal blood vessel syste. CRF stimulates the anterior pituitary gland, causing release of andreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the blood stream. When stimulated by ACTH, the adrenal cortex synthesizes glucocorticoid hormones from the cholesterol precursor. Increased levels of glucocorticoids initiate metabolic effects that modulate the stress reaction.  Laboratory rats usually groom and lick in a stressful situation. It has been proposed that they groom to reduce stress and licking when the situation inducing the stress is over. Method:In this experiment normal 12:12 light dark phases were maintained for all the  groups. Control group was kept at normal room temperature (22±1). A (4ºc),B in (0ºc), C (4ºc and 0.30 mg alprazolam / kg body weight /animal),D(0ºc and 0.30 mg alprazolam/ kg body weight/ animal.E2 group was treated with (4ºc and 1000 mg/kg body weight methanolic extract of Withaniasomnifera  root extract /animal ). F2 group was treated with (0ºc and 1000 mg/kg body weight methanolic root extract of Withania somnifera / animal). Result: the anxiety-like behaviour was significantly increased in stressed rats compared to the control animals. The results were also consistent with the exposure to the stress and chronic restraint stress. Action of Alprazolam over cold stress treated group significantly reduced the anxiety like behaviour. Whereas methanolic  root extract of Withania somnifera in low and high doses also showed significant effects to the control anxiety like behaviour.  Alprazolam + different stress treated groups in different experiment at conditions show significant changes in its behavioural responses in comparison to the stress treated group. Whereas herbal medicine (i.e. methanolic root extract of Withania somnifera) when applied to different stress treated group showed more significant result, compared to the Alprazolam+ different stress treated groups. Conclusion: The positive safe anti stress effects of the herbal plant medicine proves that the tribal medicines have the potentiality to act effectively and can be used as safe medicine for anti stress purposes. 

Keywords: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis; ACTH; CRF; Withania Somnifera; Alprazolam; Corticotropin releasing Factor