Potentiating effects of Perovskia abrotanoides on pentobarbital-induced sleep

Objective: Sleeplessness is the most common sleep disorder. In this study the hypnotic effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE) of Perovskia abrotanoides and its water fraction (WF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and n-butanol fraction (NBF) were studied in mice.Materials and Methods: The test compounds were administered intraperitoneally to mice 30 min before the administration of sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg.). Moreover, the influence of flumazenil on the hypnotic effect of the extracts was evaluated. Besides, 30 min after administration of HAE, motor coordination (rota-rod test) was assessed. Additionally, LD50 for HAE was determined and the possible neurotoxicity of the extract was tested in neural PC12 cells.Results: The HAE and NBF decreased the latency of sleep (p