The journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research has recently published an article which examines how two components of peanut steam and leaf extract might be beneficial for sleep.
Peanut steam and leaf (PSL) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used as a dietary supplement to improve sleep quality, however, the reason that it is believed to improve sleep is largely unknown. Researchers set out to study PSL and determine what components may be beneficial for sleep quality. Through their analysis, it was discovered that aqueous PSL extract increased the duration of total sleep, slow wave sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in mice after 7 and 14 continuous days of administration. Two components of PSL with flavonoid-like structures were identified which may promote sleep and improve sleep quality. More specifically, 4’,7-di-O-methylnaringenin (DMN) and 2’-O-methylisoliquiritigenin (MIL) were the active ingredients identified. It is believed that the reason these ingredients may promote sleep is because they regulate the excitability of neurons in the brain.
In conclusion, the authors found two ingredients in peanut steam and leaf that may improve sleep quality.
Guo, R., Shi, A. M., Deng, L., Li, L., Wang, L. C., Oteng, A. B., … & Wang, Q. (2022). Flavonoid‐Like Components of Peanut Stem and Leaf Extract Promote Sleep by Decreasing Neuronal Excitability. Molecular nutrition & food research, 2100210.