Albizia julibrissin Ameliorates Memory Loss Induced by Insomnia in Drosophila

Abstract

In clinical practice in Taiwan, Albizia julibrissin is the most prescribed Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia. Short-term insomnia and hypnotic use both attenuate cognitive functions, especially learning memory. In previous studies, A. julibrissin exhibits sedative activity, antidepressant-like effects, and protection of learning and memory against amnesia. However, whether A. julibrissin ameliorates memory loss caused by short-term sleep deprivation is not clear. We utilized the sleep-deprived Drosophila model and olfactory associative learning-memory assay to test the effects of A. julibrissin on sleep-deprivation induced memory loss. We found that A. julibrissin ameliorated 3-hour memory but not 1-hour memory or instant learning. The findings might be applied to an anticipated short-term sleep disturbance.

Potential mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in treating insomnia: A network pharmacology, GEO validation, and molecular-docking study

“…Si et al [ 61 ] found that BH could alleviate insomnia by modulating the composition, diversity, and metabolites of rats’ gut microbiota. Chang et al [ 62 ] reported that HHH could improve the memory loss induced by short-term sleep deprivation in fruit flies. Lee et al [ 63 ] found that KS and its bioactive compound, marine, promoted the transition from nonrapid eye movement sleep to rapid eye movement sleep by activating the VLPO neurons and modulating serotonin transmission in rats.…”

Chinese Pharmacopoeia Revisited: A Review of Anti-Depression Herbal Sources

“…46 Using the learning and memory of the sleep-deprived Drosophila model, the boiled water extracts (drugs : water = 6 kg : 6 L) of Albiziae Flos (4.5 and 18 mg/mL) have been proved to effectively ameliorate memory loss induced by sleep deprivation. 47 However, the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of Albizia julibrissin remain as an ongoing challenge.…”