/ IAPH Books, Science Book, The Basic Handbook of Indian Ethnobotany and Traditional Medicine [Volume: 2] / By

Potential Applications of Traditional Medicinal Plants for Treating Sleep Disorders

Nithar Ranjan Madhu
Department of Zoology, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, New Barrackpore, Kolkata-700131, West Bengal, India
OrchideID Icon https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4198-5048

Bhanumati Sarkar
Department of Botany, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, New Barrackpore, Kolkata-700131, West Bengal, India
OrchideID Icon https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9410-9311

Nikhil Chandra Halder
Department of Botany, Uluberia College, Uluberia, Howrah, West Bengal, Pin–711315, India

Biplab Kumar Behera
Department of Zoology, Siliguri College, Siliguri, West Bengal, India

Published online:15 December, 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.52756/bhietm.2023.e02.015

Keywords: Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Jatamansi, Sleep disorders, Medicinal plants

Abstract:

Sleep disorders involve conditions such as insomnia, sleep apnoea and restless leg syndrome and they are realised in almost everyone ranging from children to the elderly globally. To this time, folk medicinal practices in India including West Bengal are rich in terms of Ayurveda, Unani and folk medicine: a number of herbs from these practices have been used to cure sleep disorders. Hence, vegetation and herbal medicine like Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis),  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Hops (Humulus lupulus), Kava (Piper methysticum), St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis), Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), Saffron (Crocus sativus), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Tagar (Valeriana wallichii),Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and Shushni shak (Marsilea minuta) are used consistently in order to treat sleep disorders as they act as sedatives & stress busters. Ashwagandha commonly referred to as the ‘Indian ginseng’ is an effective adaptogen that has the benefits of decreasing stress and anxiety, two relevant causes of insomnia. Antioxidants, withanolides in particular have also exhibited a potential capacity to improve sleep quality via regulation of the body’s stress levels. Brahmi, another valued plant, is devoted to increasing the intelligence of people. Some traditional pharmacological uses include the enhancement of mental stability, eradication of anxiety and the general prevention of sleeplessness. That is why the effect of Brahmi on different neurotransmitter concentrations has been proven to help improve the limits of sleep regulation. Jatamansi, because of its calming nature was traditionally used for ailments that caused sleeplessness such as insomnia and other nervous disorders. Owing to its constituents like jatamansone and nardostachone it is used for its root extract that exhibits sedative activity through its action on the CNS. Tagar has valerenic acid and other oils that soothe the brains and nervous system of a human being. Shankhapushpi plant is used to cure mental disorders which it achieves through the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids that enable a person to have sound sleep. The tea prepared using dried chamomile flowers is consumed by many people as a treatment for mild cases of insomnia and anxiety. Vacha is used in either a form of decoction or as a powder to cure sleep disorders induced by stress as well as mental tiredness. The use of these plants in the modern approaches to the management of sleep disorders is perfect since it provides a natural way to manage it. In this particular book chapter, the author discussed the possibility of using plants traditional medicinal plants for treating sleep disorders.

References:

  • Awad, R., Levac, D., Cybulska, P., Merali, Z., Trudeau, V.L., & Arnason, J.T. Effects of traditionally used anxiolytic botanicals on enzymes of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 85(9), 933-42. https://doi.org/10.1139/Y07-083.
  • Baliga, M.S., Jimmy, R., Thilakchand, K.R., Sunitha, V., Bhat, N.R., Saldanha, E., Rao, S., Rao, P., Arora, R., & Palatty, P.L. (2013). Ocimum sanctum L (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and its phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Nutr. Cancer, 65Suppl 1,26-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2013.785010.
  • Becker, A., Yamada, Y., & Sato, F. (2023). California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), the Papaveraceae golden girl model organism for evodevo and specialized metabolism. Front Plant Sci., 14, 1084358. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1084358.
  • Bent, S., Padula, A., Moore, D., Patterson, M., & Mehling, W. Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am. J. Med., 119(12), 1005-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.02.026. 
  • Bhattamisra, S.K., Khanna, V.K., Agrawal, A.K., Singh, P.N., & Singh, S.K. (2008). Antidepressant activity of standardised extract of Marsilea minuta Linn. J. Ethnopharmacol., 117(1), 51-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.01.012.
  • Brewster, G.S., Riegel, B., & Gehrman, P.R. (2018). Insomnia in the Older Adult. Sleep Med. Clin.,13, 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2017.09.002
  • Buxton, O.M., Broussard, J.L., Zahl, A.K., & Hall, M. (2014). Effects of Sleep Deficiency on Hormones, Cytokines, and Metabolism. In Impact of Sleep and Sleep Disturbances on Obesity and Cancer; Redline, S., Berger, N.A., Eds.; Springer: New York, NY, USA, pp. 25–50.
  • Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J. Psychol. Med., 34(3), 255-62. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.106022. 
  • Chen, H.W., Wei, B.J., He, X.H., Liu, Y., & Wang, J. (2015). Chemical Components and Cardiovascular Activities of Valeriana spp. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2015, 947619. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/947619.
  • Cho, Y.W., Shin, W.C, Yun, C.H., Hong, S.B, Kim, J., & Earley, C.J. (2009). Epidemiology of insomnia in Korean adults: prevalence and associated factors. J. Clin Neurol., 5, 20–23.
  • Clark, A.J., Salo, P., Lange, T., Jennum, P., Virtanen, M., Pentti, J., Kivimäki, M., Rod, N.H., & Vahtera, J. (2016). Onset of Impaired Sleep and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Longitudinal Study. Sleep, 39, 1709–1718. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.6098
  • Cristea, R.M., Sava, C., Căpățână, C., & Kanellou, A. (2024). Phytochemical Analysis and Specific Activities of Bark and Flower Extracts from Four Magnolia Plant Species. Horticulturae, 10, 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020141
  • Da Silva, A.A., de Mello, R.G.B., Schaan, C.W., Fuchs, F.D., Redline, S., & Fuchs, S.C. (2016). Sleep Duration and Mortality in the Elderly: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. BMJ Open, 6, e008119. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008119
  • Dean, G.E., Weiss, C., Morris, J.L., & Chasens, E.R. (2017). Impaired Sleep. Nurs. Clin. N. Am., 52, 387–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2017.04.009
  • Dobros, N., Zawada, K., & Paradowska, K. (2022). Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia Cultivars Extracted with Different Methods. Antioxidants (Basel), 11(4), 711. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11040711.
  • Ernst, E. (2006). Herbal remedies for anxiety—A systematic review of controlled clinical trials. Phytomedicine, 13, 205–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2004.11.006
  • Gottumukkala, V.R., Annamalai, T., & Mukhopadhyay, T. (2011). Phytochemical investigation and hair growth studies on the rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. Pharmacogn Mag., 7(26), 146-50. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.80674.
  • Harvey, A.G. (2001). Insomnia: Symptom or diagnosis? Clin. Psychol. Rev., 21, 1037–1059. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7358(00)00083-0
  • Innominato, P.F., Spiegel, D., Ulusakarya, A., Giacchetti, S., Bjarnason, G.A., Lévi, F., & Palesh, O. Subjective sleep and overall survival in chemotherapy-naïve patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Sleep Med., 16(3), 391-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.022.
  • Irwin, M.R. (2015). Why Sleep Is Important for Health: A Psychoneuroimmunology Perspective. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 66, 143–172. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115205
  • Janda, K., Wojtkowska, K., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., & Skonieczna-Żydecka, K. (2020). Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3894. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123894. 
  • Jeyasri, R., Muthuramalingam, P., Suba, V., Ramesh M., & Chen, J.T. (2020). Bacopa monnieri and Their Bioactive Compounds Inferred Multi-Target Treatment Strategy for Neurological Diseases: A Cheminformatics and System Pharmacology Approach. Biomolecules, 10(4), 536. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10040536. 
  • Kajjari, S., Joshi, R.S., Hugar, S.M., Gokhale, N., Meharwade, P., & Uppin, C. (2022). The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil and its Clinical Implications in Dentistry: A Review. Int. J. Clin. Pediatr. Dent., 15(3), 385-388. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2378.
  • Kucharczyk, E.R., Morgan, K., & Hall, A.P. (2012). The occupational impact of sleep quality and insomnia symptoms. Sleep Med. Rev., 16, 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2012.01.005
  • Leach, M.J., & Page, A.T. Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev., 24, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003.
  • Mailänder, L.K., Lorenz, P., Bitterling, H., Stintzing F.C., Daniels, R., & Kammerer, D.R. (2022). Phytochemical Characterization of Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) Roots and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential. Molecules, 27(23), 8508. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238508.
  • Maqbool, Z., Arshad, M.S., Ali, A., Aziz, A., Khalid, W., Afzal, M.F., Bangar, S.P., Addi, M., Hano, C., & Lorenzo, J.M. (2022). Potential Role of Phytochemical Extract from Saffron in Development of Functional Foods and Protection of Brain-Related Disorders. Oxid. Med. Cell Longev., 2022, 6480590. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6480590.
  • McCallum, J.L., Nabuurs, M.H., Gallant, S.T., Kirby, C.W., & Mills, A.A.S. (2019). Phytochemical Characterization of Wild Hops (Humulus lupulus sp. lupuloides) Germplasm Resources From the Maritimes Region of Canada. Front Plant Sci., 10, 1438. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01438.
  • McIntyre, E., Saliba, A.J., Wiener, K.K., & Sarris, J. (2015). Prevalence and predictors of herbal medicine use in adults experiencing anxiety: A critical review of the literature. Adv. Integr. Med., 2, 38–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2015.04.002
  • Michael, H.S.R., Mohammed, N.B., Ponnusamy, S., & Edward, G.W. (2022). A Folk Medicine: Passiflora incarnata L. Phytochemical Profile with Antioxidant Potency. Turk J Pharm Sci., 19(3), 287-292. https://doi.org/10.4274/tjps.galenos.2021.88886.
  • Min, Y., & Slattum, P.W. (2018). Poor Sleep and Risk of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review. J. Appl. Gerontol, 37, 1059–1084.
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816681149
  • Morin, C.M., Drake, C.L., Harvey, A.G., Krystal, A.D., Manber, R., Riemann, D., & Spiegelhalder, K. (2015). Insomnia disorder. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers, 1, 15026. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2015.26.
  • Noor-E-Tabassum, Das, R., Lami, M.S., Chakraborty, A.J., Mitra, S., Tallei, T.E., Idroes, R., Mohamed, A.A., Hossain, M.J., Dhama, K., Mostafa-Hedeab G., & Emran, T.B. (2022). Ginkgo biloba: A Treasure of Functional Phytochemicals with Multimedicinal Applications. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2022, 8288818. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8288818.
  • O’Donnell, M.L., Creamer, M., Elliott, P., Bryant, R., McFarlane, A., & Silove, D. Prior trauma and psychiatric history as risk factors for intentional and unintentional injury in Australia. J. Trauma., 66, 470–476.
  • Ohayon, M.M., Carskadon, M.A., Guilleminault, C., & Vitiello, M.V. (2004). Meta-Analysis of Quantitative Sleep Parameters from Childhood to Old Age in Healthy Individuals: Developing Normative Sleep Values Across the Human Lifespan. Sleep, 27, 1255–1273. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/27.7.1255
  • Petrisor, G., Motelica, L., Craciun, L.N., Oprea, O.C., Ficai, D., & Ficai, A. (2022). Melissa officinalis: Composition, Pharmacological Effects and Derived Release Systems-A Review. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23(7), 3591. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073591
  • Piatti, D., Marconi, R., Caprioli, G., Angeloni, S., Ricciutelli, M., Zengin, G., Maggi, F., Pagni, L., & Sagratini, G. (2022). Assessment and Comparison of Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Activities between Full Flowering and Late Flowering of Hypericum perforatum L. Applied Sciences, 13(24), 13304.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413304
  • Saleem, S., Muhammad, G., Hussain M.A., Altaf, M., & Bukhari, S.N.A. (2020). Withania somnifera L.: Insights into the phytochemical profile, therapeutic potential, clinical trials, and future prospective. Iran J. Basic Med. Sci., 23(12), 1501-1526. https://doi.org/10.22038/IJBMS.2020.44254.10378.
  • Savard, J., Simard, S., Blanchet, J., Ivers, H., Morin, C.M. Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors for insomnia in the context of breast cancer. Sleep., 24(5), 583-90. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/24.5.583.
  • Schubert, C.R., Cruickshanks, K.J., Dalton, D.S., Klein, B.E.K., Klein, R., & Nondahl, D.M. (2002). Prevalence of Sleep Problems and Quality of Life in an Older Population. Sleep, 25, 889–893.
  • Shi, L., Chen, S.J., & Ma, M.Y. (2018). Sleep disturbances increase the risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev.,  40, 4–16. 
  • Shinjyo, N., Waddell, G., & Green, J. (2020). Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 25. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X20967323
  • Song, L., Zheng, J., Zhang, L., Yan, S., Huang, W., He, J., & Liu, P. (2019). Phytochemical Profiling and Fingerprint Analysis of Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) Leaves of 66 Cultivars from Xinjiang Province. Molecules, 24(24), 4528. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24244528. 
  • Srivastava, J.K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol. Med. Rep., 3(6), 895-901. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2010.377. 
  • Toolika E., Bhat N.P., & Shetty S.K. (2015). A comparative clinical study on the effect of Tagara (Valeriana wallichii DC.) and Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi DC.) in the management of Anidra (primary insomnia). Ayu., 36(1), 46-9. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.169008. 
  • Varinthra, P., Anwar, S.N.M.N., Shih, S.C., Liu, I.Y. (2024). The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia. Tzu Chi Medical Journal, 36(2), 103-109, https://doi.org/10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_243_23
  • Wang, Z.L., Wang, S., Kuang, Y., Hu, Z.M., Qiao, X., & Ye, M. (2018). A comprehensive review on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and flavonoid biosynthesis of Scutellaria baicalensis. Pharm Biol., 56(1), 465-484. https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2018.
  • Xuan, T.D., Fukuta, M., Wei, A.C., Elzaawely, A.A., Khanh, T.D., & Tawata, S. (2008). Efficacy of extracting solvents to chemical components of kava (Piper methysticum) roots. J. Nat. Med., 62(2),188-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-007-0203-2. Yurcheshen, M.E., Pigeon, W., & Marcus, C.Z., Interrater reliability between in-person and telemedicine evaluations in obstructive sleep apnea. J. Clin. Sleep Med., 17(7), 1435–1440.  https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.9220
Get PDF

check for update

The Basic Handbook of Indian Ethnobotany
and Traditional Medicine
[Volume: 2]

How to Cite
Nithar Ranjan Madhu, Bhanumati Sarkar, Nikhil Chandra Halder and Biplab Kumar Behera (2023). Potential Applications of Traditional Medicinal Plants for Treating Sleep Disorders. © International Academic Publishing House (IAPH), Mrs. Bhanumati Sarkar, Dr. (Professor) Surjyo Jyoti Biswas, Dr. Alok Chandra Samal & Dr. Akhil Pandey (eds.), The Basic Handbook of Indian Ethnobotany and Traditional Medicine [Volume: 2], pp. 224-243. ISBN: 978-81-962683-5-0
Doi: https://doi.org/10.52756/bhietm.2023.e02.015

SHARE WITH EVERYONE

Continue reading in any device

Continue reading in any device