Terpenoids derived from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae oil enhance sleep by modulating neurotransmitter signaling in mice
Mingzhe Sun,
Mengnan Li,
Xinwen Cui,
Lin Yan,
Yiqiao Pei,
Chao Wang,
Chunbo Guan,
Xiuqing Zhang
Affiliations
Mingzhe Sun
College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Health Foods R&D Office of Hebei Yiling Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Shijiazhuang 050035, China
Mengnan Li
National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang 050035, China; Key Laboratory of State Administration of TCM (Cardio-Cerebral Vessel Collateral Disease), Shijiazhuang 050035, China
Xinwen Cui
College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Lin Yan
Health Foods R&D Office of Hebei Yiling Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Shijiazhuang 050035, China
Yiqiao Pei
College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
Chao Wang
Health Foods R&D Office of Hebei Yiling Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Shijiazhuang 050035, China
Chunbo Guan
College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Xiuqing Zhang
College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Corresponding author.
Semen Ziziphi Spinosae oil (SZSO) is a natural vegetable oil extracted from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its sleep-promoting properties, while the mechanisms are still unclear. Our findings revealed that the terpenoids present in SZSO (T-SZSO) were identified as the active components responsible for promoting sleep. Network pharmacological analysis suggested that T-SZSO targeted different sleep-aid pathways to varying degrees and exhibited potential for preventing central nervous system diseases. Notably, lupeol and betulinicaldehyde exhibited more pronounced effects. Additionally, T-SZSO significantly elevated serotonin levels, enhanced gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis, promoted GABA A receptor expression, and decreased glutamate and norepinephrine expression levels. Moreover, T-SZSO was found to downregulate IL-1β expression while upregulating superoxide dismutase and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels. In conclusion, this study presents the first investigation into the pharmacological basis of SZSO in promoting sleep and highlights the potential of nature food in improving suboptimal health conditions.
