Insomnia, a prevalent global health issue exacerbated by modern life stress, affects 38.2% of Chinese people, with a rising trend among youth. Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou, rich in saponins and flavonoids, exhibits sedative-hypnotic and anti-anxiety effects, offering a natural solution for insomnia. This study explores the potential of saponin-based substances from medicinal plants (e.g., Z. jujuba var. spinosa, Panax notoginseng) for sleep improvement. It systematically analyzes the technological evolution in transforming saponin-containing materials into modern preparations, including multidimensional raw material identification (DNA barcoding, NIRS, ICP-MS) and advancements in extraction technologies. Challenges remain, such as high costs of supercritical CO2 extraction, unclear sleep-regulating mechanisms of saponins, and formulation optimization hurdles. This work provides a foundation for developing safe, eco-friendly saponin-derived sleep-aiding products.
Shijun Xu (2026) studied this question.