Crocin promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice

Crocus sativus L. (saffron) has been traditionally used for the treatment of insomnia and other diseases of the nervous systems. Two carotenoid pigments, crocin and crocetin, are the major components responsible for the various pharmacological activities of C. sativus L. In this study, we examined t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular nutrition & food research 2012-02, Vol.56 (2), p.304-308
Main Authors: Masaki, Mika, Aritake, Kosuke, Tanaka, Hiroyuki, Shoyama, Yukihiro, Huang, Zhi-Li, Urade, Yoshihiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administration, Oral
Animals
Carotenoids - administration & dosage
Carotenoids - pharmacology
Crocetin
Crocin
Crocus - chemistry
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Electroencephalogram
Electroencephalography
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Locomotor activity
Mice
Mouse
Sleep Stages - drug effects
Sleep, REM - drug effects
Time
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Summary:Crocus sativus L. (saffron) has been traditionally used for the treatment of insomnia and other diseases of the nervous systems. Two carotenoid pigments, crocin and crocetin, are the major components responsible for the various pharmacological activities of C. sativus L. In this study, we examined the sleep‐promoting activity of crocin and crocetin by monitoring the locomotor activity and electroencephalogram after administration of these components to mice. Crocin (30 and 100 mg/kg) increased the total time of non‐rapid eye movement (non‐REM) sleep by 60 and 170%, respectively, during a 4‐h period from 20:00 to 24:00 after its intraperitoneal administration at a lights‐off time of 20:00. Crocetin (100 mg/kg) also increased the total time of non‐REM sleep by 50% after the administration. These compounds did not change the amount of REM sleep or show any adverse effects, such as rebound insomnia, after the induction of sleep.
ISSN:1613-4125
1613-4133
DOI:10.1002/mnfr.201100181