Abstract
Eschscholzia californica Cham, is a traditional medicinal plant of the Indians used by the rural population
of California for its analgesic and sedative properties. Our study on the aqueous
extract shows that this plant reduced the behavioural parameters measured in a familiar
environment test in mice (novelty preference, locomotion and rearings in two compartments
test) at doses above 100 mg/kg and in non-familiar environment tests (staircase test)
at doses above 200 mg/kg. This finding validates its traditional sedative properties
confirmed by the sleeping induction at doses above 100 mg/kg. Furthermore, when administered
at a dose a of 25 mg/kg, E. californica appeared to also have an anxiolytic action since it produced an increase of the number
of steps climbed by mice in the staircase test (anticonflict effect) and that of the
time spent by animals in the lit box when they were confronted with the light/dark
choice situation. Before evaluation of the behavioural effects, it was verified that
our aqueous extract did not induce any toxic effect when administered i.p. and p.o..
Key words
Eschscholzia californica
- sedation - anxiolytic effect - exploration - locomotion - staircase test - light/dark
choice situation - sleep induction
