biostudies-literatureUnknown28(5)Wang LX<h4>Background</h4>Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder globally. Nuciferine (NF), a bioactive constituent extracted from Nelumbo nucifera leaves, is recognized for its diverse pharmacological activities. However, its sleep-regulating effects have not been investigated. This study aimed to delineate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of NF in mitigating insomnia.<h4>Methods</h4>The sedative-hypnotic effects of NF were assessed employing locomotor activity test, pentobarbital-induced sleep test, and electroencephalography-based sleep profiling. Insomnia symptoms in rodents were induced by serotonin (5-HT) depletion and environmental stress. The potential mechanisms of NF's action through the regulation of central serotonin system were also explored.<h4>Results</h4>NuThe international journal of neuropsychopharmacologypyaf019https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12084828biostudies-literatureSedative and hypnotic effects of nuciferine: enhancing rodent sleep via serotonergic system modulation.PMC12084828Zhang YZGu YFYang JLi JCWang LXFan QYQiu RHLi LWang JWang YKLiu YMLi SXue RZhang YfalseSedative and hypnotic effects of nuciferine: enhancing rodent sleep via serotonergic system modulation.<h4>Background</h4>Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder globally. Nuciferine (NF), a bioactive constituent extracted from Nelumbo nucifera leaves, is recognized for its diverse pharmacological activities. However, its sleep-regulating effects have not been investigated. This study aimed to delineate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of NF in mitigating insomnia.<h4>Methods</h4>The sedative-hypnotic effects of NF were assessed employing locomotor activity test, pentobarbital-induced sleep test, and electroencephalography-based sleep profiling. Insomnia symptoms in rodents were induced by serotonin (5-HT) depletion and environmental stress. The potential mechanisms of NF's action through the regulation of central serotonin system were also explored.<h4>Results</h4>Nu2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2026-04-08T15:43:10.484Z2026-04-08T05:20:24.427ZS-EPMC120848284016003510.1093/ijnp/pyaf019