Abstract
Neuropharmacological actions of the water extract of Perillae Herba, and perillaldehyde which is one of the main components of the essential oil of this crude drug, were examined. In ddY strain mice, a dose of 4g/kg, p.o. of the water extract and 100mg/kg, p.o. of perillaldehyde exerted a significant prolongation of sleeping time induced by the administration of hexobarbital Na but did not show any effects on the body temperature and the rotating rod performance. On the laryngeal reflex in cats, the water extract and perillaldehyde exerted a clear inhibitory effect, and such inhibitory effects were also observed on the excitable membranes by using an isolated snail's neuron and frog's sciatic nerve fibers. With the continuous administration of the water extract or perillaldehyde, only the water extract showed a depressive effect on the spontaneous locomoter activity in Fischer strain rats. These results suggest that the water extract of Perillae Herba and perillaldehyde have a depressive action on the central nervous system.
