A　search　for　novel　pharmacotherapy　from　medicinal　plants　for　psychiatric　illnesses　has　progressed　significantly　in　the　past　decade.　This　is　reflected　in　the　large　number　of　herbal　preparations　for　which　psychotherapeutic　potential　has　been　evaluated　in　a　variety　of　animal　models.　The　objective　of　this　review　is　to　provide　an　overview　of　herbal　extracts　and　constituents　that　have　significant　therapeutic　effects　in　animal　models　of　psychiatric　illnesses.　Eighty　five　individual　herbs　reviewed　were　classified　as　anxiolytic,　antidepressant,　neuroleptic,　antidementia,　or　anti-substance　abuse　herbs.　The　full　scientific　name　of　each　herb,　herbal　part　used,　active　constituent,　extract,　dose　range　and　route,　animal　model,　possible　mechanisms　of　action,　and　pertinent　references　are　presented　via　synoptic　tables.　The　herbal　mixtures　were　also　mentioned.　A　considerable　number　of　herbal　constituents　whose　behavioral　effects　and　pharmacological　actions　have　been　well　characterized　may　be　good　candidates　for　further　investigations　that　may　ultimately　result　in　clinical　use.　The　investigation　of　a　large　portion　of　the　herbal　extracts　and　herbal　mixtures　is　in　its　infancy.　Herbal　remedies　that　have　demonstrable　psychotherapeutic　activities　have　provided　a　potential　to　psychiatric　pharmaceuticals　and　deserve　increased　attention　in　future　studies.　(C)　2004　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.