Objective: To explore the influence of vitamin B1 (VB1) on the effect of Anshen Bunao syrup. Method: The experimental mice were randomly divided into 7 groups: the control group (distilled water)

the high and low-dose Anshen Bunao syrup groups (10

5 mL·kg-1)

the high and low-dose Anshen Bunao syrup without containing VB1 groups (10

5 mL·kg-1)

the high and low-dose VB1 oral liquid groups (10

5 mL·kg-1) of 10 mice each. The corresponding medicines were intragastrically administered to the mice according to body weight once daily for 10 days. The sedative effects of different groups were observed by the locomotor activity in mice; the hypnotic effects were observed by the sleeping time in mice with pentobarbital sodium; the RNA content of brain tissue was measured by orcinol method; the DNA content of brain tissue was determined through diphenylamine colorimetric method

and protein content of brain tissue was determined by lowry method. Result: Compared with the control group

the times of spontaneous motion (the indication of sedation) in mice significantly decreased in the high- and low-dose groups of Anshen Bunao syrup and Anshen Bunao syrup without containing VB1 (P<0.05). There were no significant differences for the times of spontaneous motion between VB1 oral liquid groups and the control group. The sleep time by pentobarbital sodium significantly increased in the high-dose Anshen Bunao syrup group (P<0.05). There was an increasing tendency for the sleep time by pentobarbital sodium in Anshen Bunao syrup without containing VB1 groups. There were no significant differences among other groups. The DNA content of brain increased significantly in all groups except the low-dose Anshen Bunao syrup group. The protein content increased significantly in the high-dose Anshen Bunao syrup without containing VB1 and high-

low-dose VB1 oral liquid groups (P<0.01). The RNA content in the brain had no significant difference between any two groups. Conclusion: The sedative-hypnotic effect of Anshen Bunao syrup without containing VB1 is similar to that of Anshen Bunao syrup. Simultaneously

our results prove that the different processes samples could promote DNA and protein synthesis of brain tissues

but they have no influence on RNA content in mice.