Medicinal Plants Combating Against Insomnia: A Green Anti-Insomnia Approach

Neuropharmacology Potential of the Hydroalcoholic Extract from the Leaves of Piper cernuum: Anxiolytic, Hypnotic, and Antidepressant-Like Effects

Aim

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of mental illnesses is a reality that accompanies the history of civilizations, and the Piper genus exhibits many species with pharmacologically proven central effects. Then, this study evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from Piper cernuum (HEPC) leaves to validate its uses in folk medicine.

Materials and Methods

Primarily Swiss mice (female, 25-30 g) were pretreated with HEPC (50-150 mg/kg, p.o.), vehicle, or the positive control, and submitted to open-field test (OFT), inhibitory avoidance test (IAT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swim test (FST). Also, mice were exposed to pentylenetetrazol- and strychnine-induced seizure assay, pentobarbital-induced hypnosis test, and elevated plus-maze (EPM). The GABA levels and MAO-A activity were measured in the animal's brain after 15 days of HEPC administration (150 mg/kg, p.o.).

Results

Mice pretreated with HEPC (100 and 150 mg/kg) and exposed to pentobarbital presented decreased sleep latency and increased sleep duration (HEPC 150 mg/kg). In EPM, the HEPC (150 mg/kg) increased the frequency of entry and the time of exploration of mice in the open arms. The antidepressant-like properties of HEPC were demonstrated by the decrease in the mice's immobility time when tested in FST and TST. The extract did not show anticonvulsant activity, in addition to not improving the memory parameters of animals (IAT) or interfering with their locomotor activity (OFT). Besides, HEPC administration decreased the MAO-A activity and increased the GABA levels in the animal's brain.

Conclusion

HEPC induces sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic-, and antidepressant-like effects. These neuropharmacological effects of HEPC could be, at least in part, related to the modulation of the GABAergic system and/or MAO-A activity.

Effect of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Extract in Patients with Primary Insomnia: A Double-blind Randomized Study

OBJECTIVE

Insomnia is a condition that causes sleep problems, and many people suffer from it. Patients with this disorder have difficulty with beginning or continuation of sleep, so they are exhausted all day long, and their performance reduces. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of capsules that contain tomato extract in patients with primary insomnia.

METHODS

In this study, 70 patients with primary insomnia were assigned to 2 groups randomly: intervention and control. The intervention group used to take tomato capsules every night for 2 weeks, and the placebo one used to take placebo capsules every night for 2 weeks. All patients used to fill out Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires before and after the intervention. ISI and PSQI results were analyzed separately on SPSS software.

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients (35 in the intervention group and 35 in the control group), including 50 females and 20 males, were studied. Female to male ratio and the rate of unemployment were significantly higher in the intervention group (in both cases P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in other characteristics (Age, marital status, weight, height, education; in all cases P > 0.05). At the end of the study, the amount of actual sleep had increased, and the delay in falling asleep decreased in both groups; the two groups at the end of the study were not significantly different in terms of these two variables (P > 0.05). The ISI score in both groups decreased significantly at the end of the study, and the PSQI score in both groups decreased significantly at the end of the study (In both cases, P < 0.05). The absolute value of ISI score change in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001); But the absolute value of PSQI score change was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.102). Most importantly, the improvement of both ISI and PSQI scores in the intervention group was significantly better than the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that tomato capsules have sleep-inducing effects, although there was no significant difference in the amount of actual sleep, and the delay in falling sleep in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Biophilic Design as an Important Bridge for Sustainable Interaction between Humans and the Environment: Based on Practice in Chinese Healthcare Space

Since the COVID-19 epidemic, there has been an increased need for well-being and sustainable development, making biophilic design in hospital environments even more significant. However, after investigation, it was found that in many countries including China, the biophilic design of some hospitals is seriously absent, while other parts have the integration of biophilic design, but the standardization and recognition are not high. By restoring the interaction between buildings and nature, biophilic design improves the quality of environments and the health of users. The basic theoretical framework of environmental psychology is followed in this research. The health promotion mechanism, applicable natural features, and relative health advantages of hospital space and environment biophilic design are first investigated. Furthermore, according to the current status of biophilic design applications in the 12 hospitals that have the closest interaction between people and the environment. Combined with the professional and functional requirements of the healthcare spaces and the users' special demands, we propose appropriate update design methods. The goal of this study was to present ideas for healthy and efficient space environment design and to inspire sustainable environmental design for future healthcare environments.

Ganoderma lucidum promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-involved pathway in mice

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine with putative tranquilizing effects. However, the component of G. lucidum that promotes sleep has not been clearly identified. Here, the effect and mechanism of the acidic part of the alcohol extract of G. lucidum mycelia (GLAA) on sleep were studied in mice. Administration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg GLAA for 28 days promoted sleep in pentobarbital-treated mice by shortening sleep latency and prolonging sleeping time. GLAA administration increased the levels of the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine and the Tph2, Iptr3 and Gng13 transcripts in the sleep-regulating serotonergic synapse pathway in the hypothalamus during this process. Moreover, GLAA administration reduced lipopolysaccharide and raised peptidoglycan levels in serum. GLAA-enriched gut bacteria and metabolites, including Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium animalis, indole-3-carboxylic acid and acetylphosphate were negatively correlated with sleep latency and positively correlated with sleeping time and the hypothalamus 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration. Both the GLAA sleep promotion effect and the altered faecal metabolites correlated with sleep behaviours disappeared after gut microbiota depletion with antibiotics. Our results showed that GLAA promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-associated pathway in mice.

Conifers Phytochemicals: A Valuable Forest with Therapeutic Potential

Conifers have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential in different disorders. Alkaloids, terpenes and polyphenols are the most abundant naturally occurring phytochemicals in these plants. Here, we provide an overview of the phytochemistry and related commercial products obtained from conifers. The pharmacological actions of different phytochemicals present in conifers against bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are also reviewed. Data obtained from experimental and clinical studies performed to date clearly underline that such compounds exert promising antioxidant effects, being able to inhibit cell damage, cancer growth, inflammation and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, an attempt has been made with the intent to highlight the importance of conifer-derived extracts for pharmacological purposes, with the support of relevant in vitro and in vivo experimental data. In short, this review comprehends the information published to date related to conifers' phytochemicals and illustrates their potential role as drugs.