Abstract
Salvia leriifoliaBenth., Lamiaceae, an endemic medicinal plant of the northern region of Iran, has been documented as sedative. It has been used in traditional medicine for its muscle relaxation effect. The need for sedation and muscle relaxation are common problems which are usually treated with different synthetic drugs, which are associated with severe side effects. The aim of the current study was to investigate the muscle relaxation and sedative potency of compounds isolated fromS. leriifolia. Open field and traction tests were employed to study the muscle relaxant and like effects of compounds1and2isolated fromS. leriifoliain mice. Results revealed that each of these compounds (1and2) caused a considerable decrease in mice mobility at test doses of 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg i.p.in a dose-dependent manner. When these compounds were tested in the traction test, they exhibited significant dose-dependent skeleton muscle relaxation effect during various assessment times. Thus, it is concluded that compounds1and2exert significant sedative and muscle relaxant-like effects and therefore can be candidates for further detailed biological studies. This study strongly justifies the ethnopharmacological uses ofS. leriifoliaas sedative and muscle relaxant.