According to a report by the Nigerian Tribune on May 2, 2024, researchers have identified two natural compounds from Ocimum tenuiflorum (scent leaf) and Poria cocos (an edible medicinal mushroom) that have a strong binding affinity with receptors known to enhance the sedative effects of these plants. The sedative effects of these compounds were found to be more potent than those of commercial drugs commonly used to treat insomnia.
Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as scent leaf or efinrin (Yoruba), nchanwu (Igbo), and daidoya (Hausa), has long been recognized for its medicinal properties in Ayurveda. It is used to treat various ailments such as cough, asthma, fever, arthritis, and indigestion. Poria cocos, a mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, has shown promise in treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as aiding digestion, alleviating insomnia and depression, and countering osteoporosis and skin aging.
The study, published in Comput Biol Med, revealed that these natural compounds exhibited significant drug-like qualities, favorable pharmacokinetics, and reduced toxicity. Insomnia is a prevalent public health concern associated with distress, impaired daytime functionality, and increased risk of depression and cardiovascular disease.
Traditional medicine practitioners in many tropical countries, including Nigeria, have been using these leaves as sedatives and remedies for anxiety and antipsychotic effects. Currently, there is a lack of effective medications for treating chronic insomnia, and existing sleep medications often lead to tolerance and undesirable side effects.
The research aims to explore and validate these compounds as potential anti-insomnia therapeutics. Previous studies on Poria cocos have shown improvements in sleep quality and duration, and the presence of pachymic acid in the extract is believed to contribute to its effectiveness. Pachymic acid has been associated with cognitive and physical balance, mental well-being, serotonin release, and relief from anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia.
Although the study had some limitations, such as the absence of a placebo group and the need for further dose research and control of other variables, it provides objective data on the clinical efficacy of Poria cocos extracts. Similarly, another plant called Stachytarpheta cayennensis, known as snakeweed or rat tail, is used for anxiety and insomnia in Nigeria, and a study supported its traditional usage as an ethnomedical remedy for sleeplessness and anxiety.
Animal studies demonstrated that the administration of the extract from Stachytarpheta cayennensis significantly increased sleep in mice, with effects similar to diazepam and chlorpromazine. Furthermore, the traditional oral route of administering the leaf extract was deemed safe.
Overall, these findings offer potential avenues for the development of alternative treatments for insomnia using natural compounds derived from plants that have long been used in traditional medicine. Further research is needed to explore the precise mechanisms and optimal dosages of these compounds in promoting sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment