[Pharmacological effects of volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis on CNS].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacological effects of volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis on central nervous system. METHODS: The pharmacological effects of volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis on the autonomic activities of mice, the sleeping synergistic action of mice with pentoharbital sodium at subthreshold and hypnotic dosages, the sleep phases of rats, the writhing response of mice caused by acetic acid and the convulsion of mice induced by thio-semicarbazide were investigated. RESULTS: The autonomic activities of mice were significantly inhibited by the volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis. The rate of falling sleep and the extension of sleeping time of mice were significantly increased by the synergic action of pentobarbital sodium with the volatile oil. The sleep phases of SWS2 and REMS of rats were obviously extended by the volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis. In addition, the frequency of writhing response of mice caused by acetic acid was reduced, and the convulsion of mice induced by thio-semicarbazide was antagonized with the administration of the volatile oil. CONCLUSION: The volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis has significantly sedative analgesic and anti-hyperspasmia effects.