Methanol extract of Bassia latifolia (MEBL) bud potentiated significantly the sleeping time induced by pentobarbitone sodium, meprobamate and diazepam in mice. MEBL was found to cause significant depression in general as well as exploratory behavioral profiles in mice. Pretreatment with MEBL caused significant protection against strychnine and leptazole-induced convulsions. The results suggest that MEBL exhibits CNS depressant activity in a dose dependent manner.