Sour Jujube Seed/Suān Zǎo Rén 酸棗仁

A 2023 meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials (about 900 participants) found suanzaoren was associated with short-term improvements in self-reported sleep quality versus placebo, and lower insomnia severity at 4 weeks versus benzodiazepines or CBT. No increase in major adverse events was seen, but the authors call for larger, higher-quality trials.

A 2022 review summarises the seed's main constituents (saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, fatty acids) and reports that extracts and isolated compounds show sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies. The authors highlight growing interest in its potential relevance to Alzheimer's disease research and note its use in foods.

A 2017 review compared the chemistry and psychopharmacology of sour jujube seed with benzodiazepines, drawing on preclinical and clinical studies. It concluded that the seed's secondary metabolites appear to modulate GABAergic and serotonergic activity, while noting that the specific therapeutic constituents still require confirmation.

In rats, a 2010 study using EEG recording found that jujubosides (the seed's main saponins) increased total sleep time, with REM sleep rising during the day and light NREM sleep rising at night. In mice, jujubosides also prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleep, and the effect appeared to involve the serotonergic system.