Potentiating effects of Perovskia abrotanoides on pentobarbital-induced sleep

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.
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.
The HAE and NBF decreased the latency of sleep (p The results showed that P. abrotanoides significantly potentiated pentobarbital hypnosis without toxic effect. Probably, its effects are related to its non-polar constituents.