pharmacological evaluation of sedative activity of methanolic extract of thuja occidentalis in mice.

the methanolic leaf extract of thuja occidentalis was evaluated for possible sedative activities in mice. sedative activity was evaluated by using hole cross, open field, thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time and elevated-plus maze (epm) tests at 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg.  the extract decreased the locomotor activity of mice in hole cross, open field and epm test and showed the remarkable results as compared to the standard at both mentioned doses. moreover, the extractsignificantly minimized onset of sleep and maximized the duration of sleeping time when administered with thiopental sodium and statistically it was significant (p < 0.05).