Hypnotic activities of chamomile and passiflora extracts in sleep-disturbed rats.
In the present study, we investigated hypnotic activities of chamomile and passiflora extracts using sleep-disturbed model rats. A significant decrease in sleep latency was observed with chamomile extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg, while passiflora extract showed no effects on sleep latency even at a dose of 3000 mg/kg. No significant effects were observed with both herbal extracts on total times of wakefulness, non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep and REM sleep. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, at a dose of 3 mg/kg showed a significant antagonistic effect on the shortening in sleep latency induced by chamomile extract. No significant effects were observed with chamomile and passiflora extracts on delta activity during non-REM sleep. In conclusion, chamomile extract is a herb having benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity.
Shinomiya
Kazuaki
K
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
Inoue
Toshio
T
Utsu
Yoshiaki
Y
Tokunaga
Shin
S
Masuoka
Takayoshi
T
Ohmori
Asae
A
Kamei
Chiaki
C
D000818:Animals; D020843:Chamomile; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D035264:Flowers; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D029598:Passiflora; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts