The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity and sedative effect of the ethylic extract
of Thymelaea lythroides (Tl) on Wistar rats. The study was based on the gavage administration
of the ethylic extract of Tl with different doses (i.e. 200, 400, 500 and 5000 mg/kg), where the
toxicity and the sedative activity of the plant were observed and the obtained results were analyzed
using the ANOVA test followed by the Bonferroni test. The main results of this study showed
that the lethal dose of the ethylic extract of Tl was higher than the 5000 mg/kg dose. Moreover,
when compared to the control rats, the animals treated with 5000 mg/kg of the extract exhibited
significant reduction in appetite for food and water in the first week. Furthermore, results of the
psychotropic test conducted during this study showed visible effects on the exploratory activity of
the rats. The dose of 5000 mg/kg was also found to have a significant central nervous system effect;
the locomotor activities of the animals decreased in a manner similar to those administered with
Zepam as control.