Hydroalcoholic tarooneh extract (Spathe of Phoenix Dactylifera) increased sedative-hypnotic effects and modulated electroencephalography brain waves in anesthetized rats

Spathe of phoenix dactylifera is hard-covering envelope of date palm which is mentioned as a nerve relief in ancient medicine books. In this experiment, three extract doses used in sleeping time, sedative efficacy, and electroencephalography (EEG) protocol to show different aspects of extract effects on sleep.

In three sleeping time, anesthesia time and EEG experiment protocols test group containing three extract doses (62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg) were compared with saline control group, and in sleeping time experiment control group contained intact, midazolam, and saline group to detail more in behavioral Angel method.

Three extract doses increased sleeping time when compared with saline control group (P < 0.05). In evaluated sedative efficacy, two 125 and 250 mg/kg doses increased anesthesia and showed sedative effect (P < 0.05). In EEG experiment, dose 125 mg/kg increased delta waves and decreased high-frequency waves of alpha and beta. In addition, there were significant decreases in alpha waves of 62.5 and 250 mg/kg doses.

Although all three doses increased sleeping time, dose 125 mg/kg is more efficient for deep and relaxing sleep and suits more for related researches.