Study of sedative preanaesthetic and anxiolytic effects of herbal extract of Tilia platyphyllos scop in comparison with diazepam in the rat

Tilia platyphyllos scop belongs to the Tiliaceae family and mainly grows in northern parts of the country. It has various pharmacological effects including anxiolytic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, spasmolytic, tranquilization and sedation, hypnotic and muscular relaxation. In order to study sedative, preanaesthetic and anxiolytic effects herbal extract of Tiliaplatyphyllos scop in comparison with diazepam in different groups of female Wistar rats with the same age and weight, doses of 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and  450 mg/kg of herbal extract, 1.2 mg/kg of diazepam and equal volumes of dimethyl sulfoxide as a placebo were injected to rats intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to evaluation of sedative and preanaesthetic effects (induced sleep duration following 40 mg/kg administration intraperitoneally) and anxiolytic effects (using elevated plus maze and Rotarod test). Statistical results obtained represent a significant increase in sleep time induced with ketamine and also a significant increase in time spent by rats in open arms of maze with high and low doses of Tiliaplatyphyllos scop herbal extract (p<0.01). The result showed that herbal extract of Tiliaplatyphyllos scop at a dose of 300 mg/kg has sedative, preanaesthetic and anxiolytic effects.