Centella asiatica improves sleep quality and quantity in aged mice
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|February 20, 2025
Summary
Centella asiatica water extract (CAW) shows promise for improving sleep in aging mice. CAW increased REM sleep in males and reduced sleep disruptions in females, suggesting a sex-dependent effect on sleep quality.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Age-related sleep disruption is common and linked to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Few interventions effectively reverse age-related sleep decline.
- Centella asiatica extracts show neuroprotective effects but their impact on sleep is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of Centella asiatica water extract (CAW) on sleep patterns in aged mice.
- To determine if CAW can mitigate age-related sleep disruption.
Main Methods:
- Aged male and female C57BL6/J mice (18 months old) were fed chow containing CAW (1000 mg/kg/day) or control chow.
- Sleep composition was analyzed using electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) recordings.
Main Results:
- CAW administration increased REM sleep time in aged male mice.
- CAW decreased the number of arousals during sleep in aged female mice.
- The effects of CAW on sleep were found to be sex-dependent.
Conclusions:
- Centella asiatica water extract has a moderate, sex-dependent effect on sleep quantity and quality in aged mice.
- CAW may be a potential intervention for age-related sleep disturbances.
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