Abstract

The objective of this study is to study the sedative and hypnotic effects of the compatibility of Schisandra chinensis (SC) and Polygala tenuifolia (PT) on insomnia mice and its mechanisms. The 160 SPF KM mice were divided into 8 groups with 20 each group (10 female and 10 male mice), including control, model, estazolam, SC, PT, SC-PT 1:1, SC-PT 1:2, and SC-PT 2:1 group. Insomnia mice model was established with intraperitoneal injection of P-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) for 3 days. The mice were investigated by the sleep time of mice induced by pentobarbital sodium, the levels of GABA, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in hypothalamus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the GABAα1 and DRD2 mRNA expression in hypothalamus by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). SC-PT reduced the sleep latency of insomnia mice and prolonged the Pentobarbital-sodium induced sleep time than model group. SC-PT 2:1 group increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the expression of GABAARα1 and decreased the levels of dopamine (DA) and the expression of DRD2 in the hypothalamus of insomnia mice. The compatibility of SC and PT can enhance the function of sedation and hypnosis than single group. This study provides a basis for the compatibility of SC and PT in the insomnia treatment.

Key words: Schisandra chinensis, Polygala tenuifolia, mice, sedative, hypnotic, γ-Aminobutyric acid, dopamine.