基于褪黑素合成分泌探讨中医药改善睡眠的研究进展

Research Progress on Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Regulation of Sleep Based on Melatonin Synthesis and Secretion

睡眠是人生存不可或缺的部分,睡眠质量差表现在睡眠时间或深度的不足,长期失眠导致生理节律紊乱,影响人们正常工作生活。足量的褪黑素对于健康睡眠十分重要,昼夜节律失调引起的睡眠障碍患者中,多是由于其分泌减少所致。而褪黑素作为松果体主要分泌的激素,具有镇静和诱导睡眠的作用,及时补充能够有效改善睡眠。相关化学物质、神经结构及环境光线等都有助于调节褪黑素合成并调控睡眠觉醒周期。近年来,有研究表明部分中药及复方含有较多的褪黑素,这些中药既可外源性补充体内褪黑素,又可内源性调节褪黑素分泌,不良反应小甚至无不良反应,应进一步挖掘,以期为中医临床用药提供一定的理论基础和科学依据。

Sleep is an indispensable part of human survival. Poor sleep quality is reflected in insufficient sleep time or depth. Long-term insomnia leads to physiological rhythm disorder, which affects people’s normal work and life. Adequate levels of melatonin are important for healthy sleep, and most sleep disorders caused by circadian rhythm disorders are caused by decreased melatonin secretion. As the main hormone secreted by the pineal gland, melatonin can calm and induce sleep. Timely supplement can effectively improve sleep. Chemicals, neural structures and ambient light all help to regulate melatonin production and the sleep-wake cycle. In recent years, some studies have shown that some traditional Chinese medicines and compounds contain more melatonin. These traditional Chinese medicines can not only supplement internal melatonin, but also endogenously regulate the secretion of melatonin, with little or even no toxic or side effects. Therefore, they should be further explored in order to provide certain theoretical basis and scientific basis for the clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine.