Studies on the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola.

In this study, we investigated the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola Ma. (CD) on hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice and spontaneous motor activity by using automated activity meter in rats. It was found that crude extract of CD could prolong the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduce spontaneous motor activity, including horizontal activity, ambulatory time and total distance. Then the water fraction of CD extract could prolong the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduce the spontaneous motor activity more than that of the other fraction of CD extract in rats. These results suggest that CD ethanol extract and its water fraction possessed the sedative effect.