A Novel Functional Ingredient Derived From a Mixture of Mulberry ( Morus alba L.) Leaves and Butterfly Pea ( Clitoria ternatea L.) Flowers Enhances Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, Cognitive Function, and Anxiolytic Behavior via GABA A Receptor‐Dependent Mechanism in Rats
Abstract
The neuropharmacological benefits for sleep quality and mental health from the extracts of Morus alba L. leaves (MA) and Clitoria ternatea L. flowers (CT) have been revealed previously. However, due to synergistic interactions of polyherbal ingredients, the positive effects of MA mixed with CT are still controversial. Preliminary outcomes from in vitro assessment exposed that a 3:1 ratio of MA:CT (MACT) yielded the highest antioxidant capacity and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐promoting activity among seven combination ratios: 0MA:1CT, 1MA:0CT, 1MA:1CT, 1MA:2CT, 1MA:3CT, 2MA:1CT, and 3MA:1CT. Male Wistar rats ( n = 6/group) were electroencephalographically and electromyographically monitored to confirm the sedative‐hypnotic function of the assigned ingredients over 3 h after oral administration. Cognitive and anxiolytic effects were also evaluated thereafter. Following drug administration, it was found that MACT exhibited positive influences in a dose‐dependent manner (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg), and in a significantly better manner than either 500 mg/kg MA or CT alone. Interestingly, a majority of these effects, including sedative‐hypnotic parameters, that is, decreasing of latency to rapid eye movements (REMs) sleep and wake duration, increasing of REM sleep duration, number of REM sleep bouts, as well as elevating of cognitive function and anxiolytic parameters was reversed by pretreatment with bicuculline methiodide (2 mg/kg), a GABA A receptor antagonist. Overall, the…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tryptophan Metabolism and Gut-Brain Homeostasis
- Rationale for a Multi-Factorial Approach for the Reversal of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and MCI: A Review
- Prioritized Research for the Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Chronic Disease: Recommendations From the Lifestyle Medicine Research Summit
- Relationship between sleep disorders and gut dysbiosis: what affects what?
- The role of CLOCK gene in psychiatric disorders: Evidence from human and animal research
- Genetic, Transcriptome, Proteomic, and Epidemiological Evidence for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Polymicrobial Brain Invasion as Determinant Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.