World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

“ROLE OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN REGULATING SLEEP”: MECHANISM AND CLINICAL EVIDANCE

*Sanika Nitin Kulkarni, Virendra Vijaykumar Magar, Shoaib Habib Maniyar, Prof. Rajiya Khan

ABSTRACT

Sleep is a vital physiological process essential for cognitive performance, metabolic regulation, and overall health. Increasing evidence indicates that various bioactive compounds—including polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenes, amino acid derivatives, and melatonin-like substances—can modulate sleep quality and duration through multiple biochemical pathways. These compounds act primarily by influencing neurotransmitter systems (such as GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic pathways), oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, and circadian rhythm regulators. For instance, compounds like L-theanine, resveratrol, curcumin, and caffeic acid derivatives exhibit anxiolytic and sedative properties by enhancing GABA activity or melatonin synthesis. Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that dietary intake or supplementation of these bioactives can improve sleep latency, efficiency, and total sleep time, particularly in individuals experiencing insomnia or stress-related sleep disturbances. However, variations in dosage, bioavailability, and individual metabolic responses remain challenges in establishing standardized therapeutic applications.

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