Abstract: AIM: To investigate the central inhibition and antihypoxic effect of zhenheling in mice.METHODS: Kunming mice were divided into 4 groups.The negative control grouPwas treated with normal saline ;thePositive control grouPwas treated with either gastrodia elata or ginseng ;the two treated groups were treated with zhenheling 6 and 2 g·kg^-1,respectively.After oral administration of the drugs mentioned above for 7 -10 days,the animals were tested for the effects of zhenheling onPentobarbital-induced sleep,spontaneous activity,picrotoxin-induced convulsion and hypoxia tolerance.RESULTS: Zhenheling at either dose could increase the numbers of animals ofPentobarbital-induced sleep,and enhance the CD50 values ofPicrotoxin-induced convulsion.Zhenheling atlarge dose could inhibit the spontaneous activity.CONCLUSION: Zhenheling shows marked sedative,hypnotic,anticonvulsive and antihypoxic effects.

Key words: pharmacology, zhenheling, anticonvulsive effect, spontaneous activity, sleep, hypoxia