To survey the influence of the coumarins from radix angclicae dahuricae(CAD) on the hypnotic effects of pentobarbital sodium and barbital sodium in mice. Methods:60 Runming mice were randomly divided into 5 equal groups, with 12 animals in each group. Mice of group 1, 2, 3, 4,and 5 were given each by gastrogavage 20 mL·kg1 of 5% tween80, 25 mg·kg1 of chloromycetin, 25, 50 and 100 mg·kg1 of CAD in equal volumes, respectively. One hour later, all of the animals were given each an intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg·kg1 of pentobarbital sodium or 200 mg·kg1 of barbital sodium. The latent period and duration of hypnosis of the mice were kept under observation. Results:The duration of hypnosis induced by pentobarbital sodium was prolonged by 280.9%, 185.1%, 252.2% and 266.9%, respectively in mice given chloromycetin and 3 different doses of CAD (P<0.01). 100 mg·kg1 of CAD was shown to significantly prolong the latent period (P<0.01) and shorten the duration of hypnosis (P<0.01) induced by barbital sodium.Conclusion:CAD is considered by the authors of the present study to act by inhibiting the liver microsomal cytochrome P450. CAD in high dosis seems to excite the central nervous system in mice.