Hypnotic Effect of Nepeta glomerulosa on Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Mice

Background: Insomnia or sleeplessness is a disorder characterized by a personal incapability to falling or staying asleep for a desirable period of time, therefore disturb in quality of life. Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Nepeta gloomerulosa and its fractions on sleep-prolonging. Materials and Methods: The extract and its fractions including ethyl acetat, n-butanol and water were injected to mice and sleep duration as well as sleep latency were recorded. Also, toxicity of the extract was determined in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results: The extract increased sleep duration at 50 - 200 mg/Kg. This hypnotic effect was comparable to that of induced by diazepam. N-butanol fraction could increase sleep duration. The sleep latency was decreased by the extract and n-butanol, but not by other fractions. LD50 value for Nepeta glomerulosa was found to be 2.4 g/Kg. It had no toxicity effect on viability of neuronal cells. Conclusions: Nepeta glomerulosa potentiates sleeping behaviors without any cytotoxicity. The components responsible for this effect are most likely non-polar agents which found in n-butanol fraction.