Yejin Ahn

Although Ziziphus jujuba Mill (jujube) is used in folk medicine for hypnotic sedative, anxiolytic, and many other purposes, to date, only a few studies have revealed its sleep-promoting effects and related mechanisms. Currently, drugs used for the treatment of sleep disorders have various side effects, so it is essential to develop safe natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated the sleep-enhancing activity and mechanism of action of an aqueous extract of jujube seeds (ZW) fermented with Lactobacillus brevis L-32 in rodent models. The starch contained in ZW was removed by enzymatic degradation and fermented with L. brevis to obtain a fermented product (ZW-FM) with a high γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content. To evaluate the sleep-promoting effect of ZW-FM, pentobarbital-induced sleep tests were performed on ICR mice, and electroencephalography analysis was undertaken in Sprague Dawley rats. Additionally, the awakening relief effects of ZW-FM were confirmed in a caffeine-induced insomnia model. Finally, the mechanism of sleep enhancement by ZW-FM was analyzed using GABA receptor type A (GABAA) antagonists. The ZW-FM-treated groups (100 and 150 mg/kg) showed increased sleep time, especially the δ-wave time during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. In addition, the 150 mg/kg ZW-FM treatment group showed decreased sleep latency and increased sleep time in the insomnia model. In particular, NREM sleep time was increased and REM sleep time, which was increased by caffeine treatment, was decreased by ZW-FM treatment. ZW-FM-induced sleep increase was inhibited by the GABAA receptor antagonists picrotoxin, bicuculline, and flumazenil, confirming that the increase was the result of a GABAergic mechanism. These results strongly suggest that the increased GABA in water extract from jujube seeds fermented by L. brevis acts as a sleep-promoting compound and that the sleep-promoting activity is related to GABAA receptor binding.

Among natural products with sleep‐promoting activity, hops have been used since ancient times as a tranquilizer and hypnotic agent. This study investigated the sleep‐promoting effects of extracts of various hop ( Humulus lupulus L.) varieties in invertebrate and vertebrate models. The content of α‐acids, β‐acids, and xanthohumol was higher in hop 70% alcohol extracts than in hop hot water extracts. Among the alcohol extracts, Citra contained a high α‐acid content (229.32 µg/mg), while Saphir showed high β‐acid and xanthohumol content (66.37 and 4.23 µg/mg, respectively). In Drosophila melanogaster , Simcoe and Mosaic water extracts and Saphir and Simcoe alcohol extracts significantly increased total nighttime sleep. Total sleep time of mice with pentobarbital‐induced sleep was significantly increased by Simcoe and Mosaic water extracts and Saphir and Simcoe ethanol extracts compared to the normal group. Oral administration of Simcoe water extract and Saphir alcohol extract improved sleep in the caffeine‐induced insomnia model and upregulated the mRNA expression of GABA A (gamma 2 subunit) and GABA B receptors in mouse brains. Additionally, Saphir alcohol extract significantly increased the GABA content in mouse brains. Simcoe water extract and Saphir ethanol extract modulated GABAergic signaling to improve sleep‐related behaviors, including sleep duration.