EFFECTS OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM CERTAIN ZIZIPHORA SPECIES ON SWIMMING PERFORMANCE IN MICE

In Turkish folk medicine, Ziziphora species have been used as an infus ion for various purposes such as for the sedative, stomachic, carminat ive, activities etc. Since some of the folkloric uses may be related t o antistress (adaptogenic) activity or central nervous system depressi on, the effects of essential ails obtained from Z. tenuior, Z. taurica ssp. faurica and Z. taurica ssp. cleonioides on mice swimming perform ance were investigated. Acute lethal toxicities of these three Zizipho ra oils were also studied. On the basis of our findings obtained, thes e essential oils from the Ziziphora species decreased the swimming tim e suggesting a central nervous system depressant activity.