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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2021; 14(S 02): 133-139
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20200110
ORIGINAL ARTICLES

The effects of Valerian on sleep spindles in a model of neuropathic pain

Ashkan Soltani
1   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center - Tehran - Tehran -Iran.
,
Farideh Bahrami
1   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center - Tehran - Tehran -Iran.
2   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Physiology and Medical Physics, School of Medicine - Tehran - Tehran - Iran.
,
Zahra Bahari
1   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center - Tehran - Tehran -Iran.
2   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Physiology and Medical Physics, School of Medicine - Tehran - Tehran - Iran.
,
Zeinab Shankayi
1   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center - Tehran - Tehran -Iran.
2   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Physiology and Medical Physics, School of Medicine - Tehran - Tehran - Iran.
,
Mehdi Graily-Afra
1   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center - Tehran - Tehran -Iran.
2   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Physiology and Medical Physics, School of Medicine - Tehran - Tehran - Iran.
,
Hedayat Sahraei
1   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center - Tehran - Tehran -Iran.
2   Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Physiology and Medical Physics, School of Medicine - Tehran - Tehran - Iran.
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Introduction Valeriana officinalis is known to be one of the most famous herbal supplements for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Despite its widespread use in most countries all around the world, there is little scientific information and research on how this medication affects sleep patterns, and there are almost no studies on its effects on the characteristics of sleep spindles.

Material and Methods The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Valerian extract (VAL) on sleep spindles and induced anxiety in chronic neuropathic pain model in rats. 24 male rats were divided into three groups: neuropathic group (n=9) in which the rats underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI), sham group (n=7) in which the sciatic nerves of the animals were exposed without any constriction and also fed with the vehicle, and the third group was under CCI condition and treated with Valerian (n=8). All the rats underwent electrode implant surgery so that we could record electroencephalogram and electromyography waves. In all the three groups, EEG and EMG recordings were recorded three times (150min each time). The initial recording was just prior to the CCI surgery and the rest were 3 and 6 days following CCI surgery. Moreover, cold allodynia and elevated plus maze tests were performed 3 and 6 days following the CCI surgery.

Results Valerian treatment could repair the allodynia induced by neuropathy. On the other hand, by Valerian treatment (400mg/kg) during neuropathy, the REM sleep, decreased and the non-REM sleep increased. Moreover, there was an increment in sleep spindle density and spindle frequency even in neuropathic condition.

Discussion This herbal supplement improves the quality of sleep in neuropathy conditions.

Valerian - Sleep Spindle - Slow-Wave Sleep - REM - Anxiety - Sciatic Neuropathy


Publication History

Received: 23 August 2020

Accepted: 11 January 2021

Article published online:
30 November 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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