ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the sedative effects of different fractions of patrinia scabiosaefolia fisch. in mice and provide some valuable information for isolating components with sedative effect.Methods Petroleum, acetic ether and n-butanol fraction was isolated from the patrinia scabiosaefolia fisch.. The sedative effects were determined with locomotor activity assay, hole board test and sodium thiopental-induced sleeping time assay, and it was compared with the effects of total 70% ethanol extract. Results N-butanol fraction showed better sedative effect compared with others, and it was in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion The results showed that the main active principles of patrinia scabiosaefolia fisch. were the n-butanol fraction, and the promising active chemical might be obtained from this fraction.