Jiao-Tai-Wan herbal remedy improves sleep quality in obesity-resistant rats

Researchers have found that Jiao-Tai-Wan (JWT), a herbal decoction made from Rhizome Coptidis and Cortex Cinnamomi, can be used to improve sleep, as well as reduce inflammation and enhance insulin sensitivity. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, investigated the effects of JWT in obesity-resistant rats with chronic partial sleep deprivation.

• For the study, researchers identified the primary components of JWT using a 3D-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (3D-HPLC) assay.
• The team then subjected male Sprague-Dawley rats to four-hour intervals of environmental noise to mimic the effects of chronic partial sleep deprivation. These were then treated with varying doses of JWT for four weeks.
• Electroencephalographic (EEG) was used to measure sleep structure.
• They also measured inflammation biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.
• In addition, the researchers also studied metabolism-related parameters, such as body weight increase rate, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS) levels and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Clock gene cryptochrome expressions (Cry1 and Cry2) and inflammation gene nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) in peripheral blood monocyte cells (PBMC) were also studied.
• Based on the results, rats treated with JTW had increased sleep time and total slow wave sleep time, compared to those in the control group. JTW also reversed biomarkers for inflammation and insulin resistance caused by sleep loss.

From these findings, the team concluded that JTW can attenuate insulin resistance and inflammation brought about by chronic sleep loss.

Read the full study at this link.

Learn more on how traditional Chinese medicine helps manage chronic conditions at ChineseMedicine.news.

Journal Reference:

Zou X, Huang W, Lu F, Fang K, Wang D, Zhao S, Jia J, Xu L, Wang K, Wang N, et al. THE EFFECTS OF JIAO-TAI-WAN ON SLEEP, INFLAMMATION AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN OBESITY-RESISTANT RATS WITH CHRONIC PARTIAL SLEEP DEPRIVATION. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;17(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1648-9