Active ingredient of Sophora flavescens is reported to promote non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. However, the role of Sophora flavescens alcohol extract in insomnia is elusive, which is addressed in this study, together with the exploration on its potential mechanism. An insomnia model of rats was established by para-chlorophenylalanine induction and further treated with SFAE or Zaoren Anshen capsule (ZRAS; positive control drug). Sleep quality and sleep architecture of rats were evaluated by the sleep test, electroencephalogram and electromyogram. The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in rat hypothalamus were determined using ELISA, and the transduction of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in the brain tissues of rats was examined by Western blot. SFAE and ZRAS increased the sleeping time and decreased the sleep latency of insomnia rats. SFAE reduced waking time and increased NREM and REM time, while changing power density of wakefulness, NREM sleep, and REM sleep in insomnia rats. SFAE and ZRAS upregulated levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and downregulated those of norepinephrine and dopamine in insomnia rats. Besides, SFAE and ZRAS elevated BDNF expression as well as the ratios of phosphorylated (p)-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT. The role of SFAE in insomnia model rats was similar with that of ZRAS. SFAE reduces insomnia and enhances the PI3K/AKT/BDNF signaling transduction in insomnia model rats, which can function as a drug candidate for insomnia.

中文翻译：

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苦参醇提取物改善失眠模型大鼠失眠并促进 PI3K/AKT/BDNF 信号转导。

据报道，苦参的活性成分可促进非快速眼动 (NREM) 睡眠。然而，苦参醇提取物在失眠中的作用尚不清楚，本研究对此进行了探讨，并探讨了其潜在机制。采用对氯苯丙氨酸诱导建立大鼠失眠模型，并进一步给予SFAE或枣仁安神胶囊（ZRAS；阳性对照药）治疗。通过睡眠测试、脑电图和肌电图评价大鼠的睡眠质量和睡眠结构。采用ELISA法测定大鼠下丘脑单胺类神经递质水平，并检测大鼠脑组织中磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3K）/蛋白激酶B（AKT）/脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）信号转导情况通过蛋白质印迹。SFAE和ZRAS增加了失眠大鼠的睡眠时间并缩短了睡眠潜伏期。SFAE 减少了失眠大鼠的清醒时间并增加了 NREM 和 REM 时间，同时改变了失眠大鼠的觉醒、NREM 睡眠和 REM 睡眠的功率密度。SFAE和ZRAS上调失眠大鼠中5-羟色胺和5-羟基吲哚乙酸的水平，并下调去甲肾上腺素和多巴胺的水平。此外，SFAE和ZRAS提高了BDNF表达以及磷酸化(p)-PI3K/PI3K和p-AKT/AKT的比率。SFAE在失眠模型大鼠中的作用与ZRAS相似。SFAE可减轻失眠模型大鼠的失眠并增强PI3K/AKT/BDNF信号转导，可作为治疗失眠的候选药物。