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


CONCLUSIONS
The volatile oil of Valeriana amurensis has significantly sedative analgesic and anti-hyperspasmia effects.
Wu
Jun-kai
JK
Pharmaceutical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
Huo
Jin-hai
JH
Du
Xiao-wei
XW
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D012663:Semicarbazides; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012663:Semicarbazides; C005151:thiosemicarbazide; D010424:Pentobarbital