In order to evaluate the effects produced by N-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) tyramine (riparin II) isolated from the unripe fruit of Aniba riparia (NEES) MEZ (Lauraceae) on the central nervous system, different behavioral tests were performed. Riparin II (rip II) was administered orally (p.o.) and intraperitoneally (i.p.) in male mice, at doses of 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg, and tested on elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, rota rod and hole board tests. The results revealed that rip II caused considered increase of the number of head dips in hole board test and increased the number of entries and the time of permanence in the open arms in plus maze test in both routes. No significant effect was evidenced on rota rod and open field test, except an increase observed in the number of rearing. These results showed that riparin II presents anxiolytic-like effects in the plus maze and hole board tests which are not influenced by the locomotor activity as detected in the open field test.