enhances pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors.

Objective: Sleep disorders are among the most common psychiatric and medical conditions. In the present study, the hypnotic effect of was studied in mice

Materials And Methods: The hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE) of and three fractions of it, namely water fraction (WF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), and -hexane fraction (NHF), were intraperitoneally (ip) administrated to mice 30 min before injection of sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, ip). Then, 30 min after administration of HAE, motor coordination (rota-rod test) was evaluated. Besides, LD of HAE was determined and the cytotoxicity of HAE was evaluated in PC12 cells using the MTT assay.

Results: HAE 50-200 mg/kg increased the sleeping time. EAF was the only fraction which could prolong the sleep duration and decrease sleep latency. The LD50 value was 4.8 g/kg. The extract induced no cytotoxic effects in PC12 cell line.

Conclusion: The results suggested that potentiates pentobarbital hypnosis without causing toxic effects. Probably, its effects are mediated by the components present in EAF of this plant.