Abstract: Objective: To explore the sedative and hypnotic effects of Acanthopanax senticosus fruit water extract (ASF-WE) and alcohol extract (ASF-AE) in the mice, to elucidate the possible mechanisms, and to provide the basis for the development of Acanthopanax senticosus. Methods: ASF-WE and ASF-AE were prepared, respectively. A total of 120 male ICR mice were randomly divided into blank control group, diazepam(DZP) positive control group(DZP group), different doses (4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 mg·kg^-1) of ASF-WE groups, and different doses (4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 mg·kg^-1) of ASF-AE groups, 10 mice in each group, continuous administration for 5 d. The number of locomotor activity of the mice in various groups was recorded. The sleep rates of mice were recorded by using subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium induced sleep experiment. The sleep latency and sleep time of mice were recorded by using threshold dose of pentobarbital sodium induced sleep experiment. The hypnotic dose and subhypnotic dose of ASF-WE and ASF-AE were selected. According to the different model drugs, the model drugs were 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), flumazenil (FLU) and p-corophenylalanine (pCPA),40 male ICR mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model control group(5-HTP group and pCPA group), ASF-WE + model drug group and ASF-AE + model drug group, 10 mice in each group;80 male ICR mice were randomly divided into blank control group,FLU group,DZP group,ASF-WE group,ASF-AE group,DZP+FLU group,ASF-WE group and ASF-AE+FLU group,10 mice in each group, for 5 consecutive days. Pentobarbital sodium induced sleep experiment was used to record the sleep latency and sleep time of mice. ELISA was used todetect the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in hippocampus tissue of the mice. Results: Compared with control group, the number of locomotor activity of the mice in 32 and 64 mg·kg^-1 ASF-WE groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the number of locomotor activity of the mice in 16,32 and 64 mg·kg^-1ASF-AE groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with blank control group, the sleep latencies of the mice in 16,32 and 64 mg·kg^-1 ASF-WE groups were significantly reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the sleep time was significantly prolonged (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the sleep latencies of the mice in 16,32 and 64 mg·kg^-1 ASF-AE groups were significantly shortened(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the sleep time was significantly prolonged (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with 5-HTP group, the sleep latencies of the mice in ASF-WE + 5-HTP group and ASF-AE + 5-HTP group were significantly shortened (P<0.01), the sleep time was significantly prolonged (P<0.01),and the levels of 5-HT in rat hippocampus tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with blank control group, the sleep latency of the mice in pCPA group was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), the sleep time of the mice was shortened (P<0.01), indicating that the insomnia model was successfully established. Compared with pCPA group, the sleep latencies of the mice in ASF-WE + pCPA group and ASF-AE + pCPA group were significantly shortened (P<0.05),the sleep time was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), and the GABA levels in hippocampus tissue of the mice were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with ASF-WE group, the sleep latency of the mice in ASF-WE+FLU group was significantly prolonged (P<0.05), the sleep time was significantly shortened(P<0.01), and the GABA level in the hippocampus tissue of the mice was significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with ASF-AE group, the difference in sleep latency in ASF-AE+FLU group was not statistically significant(P>0.05),the sleep time was significantly shortened(P<0.01), and the GABA level in the hippocampus tissue of the mice was significantly decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion: ASF-WE and ASF-AE better sedative and hypnotic effects, and their mechanism may be related to its involvement in regulating the activity of 5-HT nervous system and GABA nervous system.

Key words: Acanthopanax senticosus fruits, water extract, alcohol extract, sedative and hypnotic effects, 5-hydroxytryptamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid