Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Chaihu-Longgu-Muli Decoction promotes sleep in mice with insomnia

Pei Wang¹, Siyuan Xin², Zheng Wang¹, Man Yu¹, Jiao Wang¹, Jinfeng Li¹, Min Li¹

¹Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Luhe Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, Beijing 101199, China; ²Teaching and Research Section of Acupuncture and Massage, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei Province 067000, China.

For correspondence:- Min Li Email: lm_limin999@163.com Tel:+861069543901

Accepted: 2 May 2023 Published: 30 May 2023

Citation: Wang P, Xin S, Wang Z, Yu M, Wang J, Li J, et al. Chaihu-Longgu-Muli Decoction promotes sleep in mice with insomnia. Trop J Pharm Res 2023; 22(5):1037-1042 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v22i5.15

© 2023 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the hypnotic and sedative effects, and the mechanism of action of Chaihu-Longgu-Muli Decoction (CLMD) in mice with insomnia.

Methods: A mice model induced with insomnia using p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), was established. The sedative and hypnotic effects of CLMD on mice were evaluated by animal behavioral tests. The animals were separated into four experimental groups: (1) control group, (2) PCPA group, (3) PCPA + 5 mg/kg CLMD group, and (4) CPA + 10 mg/kg CLMD group. The 5-HTR1A expression was determined by western blot. The expression levels of the neurotransmitters were assessed using commercial ELISA kits, while the histological changes in hypothalamic tissues were examined microscopically after staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E).

Results: CLMD exerted a sedative effect on and ameliorated anxiety-like and stressful behaviors in mice with insomnia. Moreover, CLMD induced sleep and enhanced 5-HTR1A to modulate neurotransmitter secretion. The data also indicate that CLMD exerted a protective role by alleviating hypothalamic damage and regulating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome associated with insomnia.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that CLMD has sedative and hypnotic effects, and offers a new therapeutic modality for insomnia treatment

Keywords: Insomnia, Chaihu-Longgu-Muli Decoction, p-Chlorophenylalanine, sedative, Hypnotic