Introduction: Noscapine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in opium latex. The only known clinical effect associated with opioid alkaloids is its antitussive activity. Previous studies have reported the anxiolytic effect of noscapine via benzodiazepine pathway. The hyperphagic effect of diazepam has also been reported. The present study examined the effect of noscapine on hyperphagia compared to diazepam (DZP).Methods: Mice fasted for 24hr were treated with noscapine (1mg/kg s.c), 30 minute, and DZP (2mg/kg s.c), 10 min prior to the termination of starvation and were immediately placed in the cage with palatable food. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist (0.5mg/kg s.c), haloperidol, a dopamine antagonist (0.2mg/kg s.c) and naloxone, an opioid antagonist (0.1mg/kg s.c) alone were administered 20 min and with noscapine 50 min before termination of starvation. Food consumed in 30 min interval for 2hr and time to find food were measured.Results: Noscapine stimulated feeding. This effect was restricted to the first 30 min. Flumazenil, haloperidol and naloxone reduced the food intake of noscapine significantly. Noscapine, flumazenil, haloperidol and naloxone prolonged the time to find food. This time reduction was less significant for nosccapine. Also, noscpaine shortened this effect of flumazenil and haloperidol, while it did not change effect of naloxone.Conclusion: The results show that noscapine may induce hyperphagia by similar pathways to DZP but its effect on time to find food might be due to different pathways.