Abstract: Background: Anxiety is associated with diverse range of psychiatric conditions. Justicia gendarussa Burm. (Acanthaceae) has been traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments such as rheumatism, inflammation, nerve diseases, lumbago and chorea. Despite a long tradition of use, no systematic phytochemical and pharmacological work has been carried out on this potential plant. Objective: Thus, Justicia gendarussa Burm was subjected to preliminary anti-anxiety screening studies, with a view to ascertain the verity of its traditional use as an anxiolytic. Materials and method: In the present investigation the aerial parts of plant parts were extracted with ethanol. The plant extract (EJG) at the dose of 250 and 500 mg kg-1 were evaluated for anti-anxiety screening studies, with a view to ascertain the verity of its traditional use as an anxiolytic. EJG administered orally in two different doses of 250 and 500 mg kg-1, was able to increase the time spent and the number of arm entries in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze, also increases the time spent by mice in the illuminated side of the light-dark test, as well as caused significant reduction in freezing time in comparison with control animals. This effect was comparable to that of the benzodiazepine diazepam at the dose of 2.0 mg kg-1. Conclusion: These results indicate that ethanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa Burm has an effective anti-anxiety effect.