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Juj2.5

Jujube Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalModerate safety

4 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most Jujube studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 2017–2020 with a typical study size of 207 participants.

Based on 4 studies · 1 RCT · 207 total participants

Confidence

Low

By outcome

Sleep & insomniaTraditional insomnia remedy with GABAergic/serotonergic mechanism; human data are mostly multi-herb or add-on, not standalone · Weeks (in combination trials)
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study

Older research base

Newest study from 2020

20172020

1RCTn=207 · medium study2020

Adding a jujube-seed-based decoction to lorazepam improved sleep more than lorazepam alone with fewer adverse effects, but jujube was given within a multi-herb formula, not standalone.

Song MF, Chen LQ, Shao QY, Hu LL, Liu WJ, Zhang YH. · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (2020)

207 analyzed participants with chronic insomnia, parallel RCT
Jiawei Suanzaoren Decoction (jujube-seed-based) + lorazepam reduced Insomnia Severity Index more than lorazepam alone at weeks 4, 8, 12
Fewer adverse effects in the combination group

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2Review2017

Ziziphus spinosa seed metabolites modulate GABAergic and serotonergic activity, but the actual therapeutic agents still require confirmation.

Shergis JL, Ni X, Sarris J, et al. · Phytomedicine (2017)

Seeds are widely used in Chinese medicine for insomnia
Secondary metabolites modulate GABAergic and serotonergic systems
The active therapeutic agents require further identification

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3Review2017

The spinosa-variety seed (Suan Zao Ren) is the second most commonly prescribed phytomedicine for insomnia in Taiwan, yet regulatory monographs remain unfinished amid gaps in standardized evidence.

Rodríguez Villanueva J, Rodríguez Villanueva L. · Phytother Res (2017)

Seeds traditionally used for sleep and digestive disorders across multiple cultures
Second most commonly prescribed insomnia phytomedicine in Taiwan
Highlights gaps in standardized clinical evidence and pharmacopoeial monographs

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4Preclinical2019

Network-pharmacology modelling suggests Suanzaoren (jujube seed) ingredients target multiple neurotransmitter receptors linked to sedative and hypnotic effects.

Gao J, Wang Q, Huang Y, Tang K, Yang X, Cao Z. · Front Pharmacol (2019)

In-silico network-pharmacology analysis of the Suanzaoren formula
Jujube-seed ingredients predicted to target multi-neurotransmitter receptors at the synapse
Supports a plausible multi-target sedative mechanism

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View in Research Library

Jujube Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Efficacy and Safety of Jiawei Suanzaoren Decoction Combined with Lorazepam for Chronic Insomnia: A Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ziziphus spinosa seeds for insomnia: A review of chemistry and psychopharmacology.

Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology of Ziziphus jujuba Mills.

In Silico Study of Anti-Insomnia Mechanism for Suanzaoren Prescription.