Sedative-Hypnotic Like Effect of the Essential Oil from the Leaves of Myrtus Communis on Mice

Myrtus communis has been recommended for relief of insomnia in Ethiopian traditional medicine and aromatherapy. However, no pharmacological studies have yet evaluated its sedative-hypnotic like effect. The aim of this study was to determine if the essential oil of Myrtus communis has sedative-hypnotic like activity. The essential oil of Myrtus communis (500,600, 800, and 1000 mg/kg) were administered orally to Swiss albino mice of both sex, 60 minutes before pentobarbital injection (50 mg/kg). Latency to sleep and sleep duration were recorded. More over the effect of the EO on motor-coordination and muscle relaxation were evaluated using Chimney and Traction test 60 and 90 min after administration of the respective doses of the EO respectively. The essential oil prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleeping time at 600, 800 (comparable to diazepam 3mg/kg), and at 1000 mg/kg compared to vehicle-treated group. The 50% negative response was observed on the Chimney and Traction test at 800 and 1000mg/kg respectively. The essential oil of Myrtus communis possesses dose dependent sedative-hypnotic like activity and CNS depressant activity.