Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the sedative and hypnotic effects of onion in dry red wine on mice. MethodsA total of 68 Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups: a distilled water group, an onion in ethanol group, a dry red wine group, an onion in dry red wine group. The mice were given the same volume of medicine twice per day for five days. Then, their spontaneous activities, sleeping latency and sleeping time after administration of hypnotic doses of pentobarbital sodium were evaluated. ResultsCompared with the distilled water group, the onion in dry red wine group showed remarkably reduced spontaneous activities, shortened sleeping latency and prolonged sleeping time (P＜0.01). In contrast, the onion in ethanol group and the onion in dry red wine group presented statistical difference in spontaneous activity and sleeping latency (P＜0.05), rather than sleeping time (P>0.05). ConclusionsOnion in dry red wine contributes to certain sedative and hypnotic effects on mice.