The present study in mice compared the putative anxiolytic-like effect of paeonol, a phenolic component from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, with the benzodiazepine diazepam in the elevated plus maze and the light/dark box-test. The comparison was also with regard to locomotor activity (open-field test) and myorelaxant potential (inclined plane test). As with 2 mg/kg diazepam, paeonol (at 17.5 mg/kg) increased the percentage of time spent on open arms in the elevated plus maze and increased the time spent in the light area of the light/dark box (at 8.75 and 17.5 mg/kg). Since paeonol, in contrast to diazepam, had no effect on either the number of squares entered in the open-field test or in the inclined plane test, its side-effect profile is considered as superior to the benzodiazepine.