Hypnotic Effect Of The Essential Oil From The Leaves Of Myrtus Comminus In Mice

Myrtus comminus has been recommended for relief of insomnia in Ethiopian traditional medicinernand aromatherapy. However, no pharmacological studies have yet evaluated its sedativehypnoticrnrneffect. The aim of this study was to determine if the essential oil of Myrtus comminusrnhas hypnotic activity. The essential oil of Myrtus comminus (500,600, 800, and 1000 mg/kg)were administered orally to Swiss albino mice of both sex, 60 minutes before pentobarbitalrninjection (50 mg/kg). Latency to sleep and sleep duration were recorded. More over the EO wasrnevaluated for its hypnotic effect in the absence of pentobarbitone at doses of 800, 1000 andrn1200mg/kg i.p. Finally the effect of the EO on motor-coordination and muscle relaxation werernevaluated using Chimney and Traction test 60 and 90 min after administration of the respectiverndoses of the EO respectively. The essential oil prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleeping time atrn600, 800 (comparable to diazepam 3mg/kg), and at 1000 mg/kg compared to vehicle-treatedrngroup. The EO also had hypnotic effect in a dose dependent manner (800, 1000mg/kg andrn1200mg/kg i.p.). The 50% negative response was observed on the Chimney and Traction test atrn800 and 1000mg/kg respectively. The essential oil of Myrtus comminus possesses doserndependent sedative-hypnotic activity and CNS depressant activity.

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