Objective To study the sedative and hypnotic effects of Yening Capsules and investigate its bioactive mechanism in mice. Methods The mice were randomly divided into control group, estazolam group (0.8 mg/kg), low, medium and high-dose Yening Capsules groups (400, 600 and 800 mg/kg) . The locomotor activity, latency to persistent sleep, sleep duration and sleep rate were determined respectively in mice via the open field test and injection of pentobarbital sodium in subthreshold and suprathreshold doses. The content of GABA, 5-HT, DA and NE in brain tissue of mice were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results Compared with the control group, Yening Capsules medium and high dose group (P<0.05, P<0.01)significantly decreased the locomotor activity of mice.The sleep latency in Yening Capsules medium and high dose group were significantly shorten (P<0.05, P<0.05)and the sleep duration (P<0.05, P<0.01)were extended. The sleep rate of Yening Capsules medium and high dose groups (P<0.05, P<0.01) was significantly increased. Compared with the control group, high dose of Yening Capsules can significantly increase GABA (P<0.05), 5-HT (P<0.05), DA (P<0.05), NE (P<0.01) in mouse brain tissue. Conclusion Yening Capsules had obvious sedative and hypnotic effects, and its mechanism may be related to the increasement of GABA, 5-HT, DA and NE level in brain tissue of mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]