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PubMed · Ziziphus spinosa seeds for insomnia: A review of chemistry and psychopharmacology. (2017)
PubMed · Wild Jujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>spinosa</i>): A Review of Its Phytonutrients, Health Benefits, Metabolism, and Applications. (2022)
Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals
How does Ziziphus spinosa work for sleep and anxiety?
Ziziphus spinosa (Suan Zao Ren) contains active compounds called jujubosides A and B, saponins, and betulinic acid that exert sedative and anxiolytic effects. These compounds appear to modulate GABAergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system, enhancing GABA activity which promotes relaxation and sleep. The herb also nourishes heart blood and yin according to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, addressing deficiency patterns underlying insomnia. Evidence Level: C.
Does Ziziphus spinosa interact with any medications?
Ziziphus spinosa may potentiate the effects of central nervous system depressants, including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and other sedative medications. Due to its sedative properties, combining it with alcohol or sleep-inducing drugs may cause excessive drowsiness. Those taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications should consult a healthcare provider before use. No significant drug interactions have been documented at standard doses, but caution is warranted. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
What is the recommended dosage for Ziziphus spinosa?
The standard adult dosage for Ziziphus spinosa seeds is 9-18 grams as a decoction, or 500-1000mg of standardized extract daily. For insomnia, it is typically taken before bedtime. The seeds should be crushed before decocting to improve extraction of active jujubosides. Dosage may vary based on individual needs and formulation type. Consult a qualified herbalist or healthcare provider for personalized dosing recommendations. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
Is Ziziphus spinosa safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Ziziphus spinosa is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be avoided. The herb's sedative compounds may cross the placenta and potentially affect fetal development. There is insufficient safety data for use during breastfeeding, so it is not recommended for nursing mothers. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding should consult their healthcare provider before using any herbal supplements. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
What is Ziziphus spinosa used for in traditional medicine?
Ziziphus spinosa, known as Suan Zao Ren in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is primarily used to treat insomnia, anxiety, and palpitations. It nourishes heart blood and yin while calming the shen (spirit), making it effective for sleep disturbances caused by deficiency patterns. Unlike Da Zao (red date), Ziziphus spinosa is considered more specifically sedative and is often combined with other herbs in formulas for insomnia and anxiety disorders. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
What are the side effects of Ziziphus spinosa?
Ziziphus spinosa is generally well-tolerated at recommended doses. Reported side effects include mild drowsiness and gastrointestinal upset such as nausea or stomach discomfort. These effects are typically dose-dependent and may resolve by reducing the dosage. No serious adverse effects have been documented at therapeutic doses. Individuals should avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how the herb affects them. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Ziziphus spinosa (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae or Suan-Zao-Ren) is a traditional Chinese medicinal seed primarily used for its sedative and hypnotic effects [PMID:36720435, PMID:32695210].
Background
Ziziphus spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow is a woody plant species of the Rhamnaceae family distributed in China, Laos, Myanmar, and Iran [PMID:36720435, PMID:35222979]. The seeds, known as Suan-Zao-Ren, are widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and are among the most commonly prescribed phytomedicines for insomnia in Taiwan [PMID:28084039, PMID:32695210].
Traditional uses
It is traditionally used as a sedative and sleep aid [PMID:36720435]. Other ethnopharmacological uses of the Ziziphus jujuba species include treating digestive disorders, gastric ulcers, and acting as an antitussive, laxative, and hypotensive drug [PMID:28084039].
Active compounds
Over 150 compounds have been identified, including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids, volatile oils, and polysaccharides [PMID:32695210]. Specific active components include spinosin, mangiferin, neomangiferin, ferulic acid, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquiritin apioside, jujuboside A and B, and swertisin [PMID:28345817, PMID:41261403, PMID:36198041].
Mechanism of action
Secondary metabolites modulate GABAergic activity and the serotonergic system [PMID:28899507]. It may ameliorate synaptic plasticity by inhibiting Aβ deposition and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway [PMID:33478552]. Jujuboside B may improve neuronal apoptosis via the Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway and restore mitochondrial function [PMID:38098161]. Metabolomic analysis suggests effects on phenylalanine and tryptophan metabolism [PMID:32072764].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BInsomnia (Methadone Maintenance)
Suan Zao Ren Tang significantly improved mean total PSQI scores and average sleep efficiency compared to placebo [PMID:26346534]
Evidence BInsomnia with Anxiety
Combination of Suan Zao Ren Tang and Zhi Zi Chi Tang significantly reduced ISI, PSQI, and wake after sleep onset (WASO) scores compared to lorazepam [PMID:25793006]
Evidence BInsomnia (Chronic Hepatitis B)
Modified Suan Zao Ren Decoction improved main symptoms of insomnia and increased stage II, IV and REM sleep [PMID:18323223]
Evidence DMenopausal Sleep Difficulty
Suan Zao Ren Tang reduced mean PSQI total scores from 13.0 to 9.0 and provided superior benefit for daytime dysfunction in women with severe symptoms [PMID:21660310]
Evidence AGeneral Insomnia
A systematic review of RCTs found CHM (including Ziziphus species) similar to Western medication and placebo, but noted insufficient evidence due to poor methodological quality of trials [PMID:22440393]
Safety & adverse effects
Reported adverse events associated with Suan Zao Ren Tang include dizziness, headache, stomach ache, and diarrhea [PMID:24159351]. A case of anaphylaxis was reported in a patient with pollinosis, suggesting a possible pollen-food allergy syndrome [PMID:39552699].
Evidence summary
Evidence for insomnia is mixed; while individual RCTs show significant improvement in sleep quality and architecture [PMID:26346534, PMID:25793006], a systematic review suggests overall evidence is insufficient due to high risk of bias and poor methodological quality in available trials [PMID:22440393].
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36720435 (2023) — Research progress of quality control for the seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow (Suan-Zao-Ren) and its proprietary Chinese medicines. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 32846778 (2020) — Suan-Zao-Ren decoction for insomnia: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. · Medicine
3.PMID: 33478552 (2021) — Suan-Zao-Ren Decoction ameliorates synaptic plasticity through inhibition of the Aβ deposition and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in AD model of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. · Chinese medicine
4.PMID: 28899507 (2017) — Ziziphus spinosa seeds for insomnia: A review of chemistry and psychopharmacology. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5.PMID: 28084039 (2017) — Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology of Ziziphus jujuba Mills.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 32072764 (2020) — Untargeted metabolomic study on the insomnia effect of Suan-Zao-Ren decoction in the rat serum and brain using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with data processing analysis. · Journal of separation science
7.PMID: 41169944 (2025) — Repurposing Suan-Zao-Ren-Tang as anticancer agents in apoptotic sensitization against non-small cell lung cancer cell lines through amplification of spindle assembly checkpoint activation. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
8.PMID: 28345817 (2017) — Simultaneous determination of multiple active components in rat plasma using ultra-fast liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and application to a comparative pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Suan-Zao-Ren decoction and Suan-Zao-Ren granule. · Journal of separation science
9.PMID: 37446967 (2023) — Genotyping of Jujube (Ziziphus spp.) Germplasm in New Mexico and Southwestern Texas. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
10.PMID: 41261403 (2025) — Decoding multicomponent crosstalk: integrated pharmacodynamic‒pharmacokinetic network of sour jujube seed. · Chinese medicine
11.PMID: 18323223 (2007) — [Clinical observation of modified Suan Zao Ren decoction on insomnia of chronic hepatitis B patients]. · Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
12.PMID: 30376350 (2019) — Traditional Use of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Insomnia and Priorities Setting of Future Clinical Research. · Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
13.PMID: 26346534 (2015) — Clinical Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suan Zao Ren Tang, for Sleep Disturbance during Methadone Maintenance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
14.PMID: 28544541 (2017) — Identification and analysis of chemical constituents and rat serum metabolites in Suan-Zao-Ren granule using ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with multiple data processing approaches. · Journal of separation science
15.PMID: 37898440 (2024) — Screening the components in multi-biological samples and the comparative pharmacokinetic study in healthy and depression model rats of Suan-Zao-Ren decoction combined with a network pharmacology. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
16.PMID: 37790781 (2023) — Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses for characterizing the alkaloid metabolism of Chinese jujube and sour jujube fruits. · Frontiers in plant science
17.PMID: 25793006 (2015) — Suan zao ren tang in combination with zhi zi chi tang as a treatment protocol for insomniacs with anxiety: a randomized parallel-controlled trial. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
18.PMID: 35988146 (2022) — Metabolomics-based analysis of flavonoid metabolites in Chinese jujube and sour jujube fruits from different harvest periods. · Journal of food science
19.PMID: 36198041 (2022) — Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of swertisin from sour Jujube seed and comprehensive revelation of its antioxidant activity. · Journal of food biochemistry
20.PMID: 21660310 (2011) — Suan zao ren tang as an original treatment for sleep difficulty in climacteric women: a prospective clinical observation. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
21.PMID: 31026552 (2019) — Ultrasonicated sour Jujube seed flavonoids extract exerts ameliorative antioxidant capacity and reduces Aβ-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
22.PMID: 22440393 (2012) — Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. · Sleep medicine reviews
23.PMID: 32695210 (2020) — Botanical and Traditional Uses and Phytochemical, Pharmacological, Pharmacokinetic, and Toxicological Characteristics of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen: A Review. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
24.PMID: 39552699 (2024) — Case Report: Anaphylaxis caused by traditional Chinese medicine in a patient with pollinosis. · Frontiers in allergy
25.PMID: 35222979 (2022) — Predicting potential distribution of Ziziphus spinosa (Bunge) H.H. Hu ex F.H. Chen in China under climate change scenarios. · Ecology and evolution
26.PMID: 24159351 (2013) — Observational studies on evaluating the safety and adverse effects of traditional chinese medicine. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
27.PMID: 38098161 (2023) — Multitarget Protective Effects of JUB on Aβ-Induced Neurotoxicity and the Mechanism Predication Using Network Pharmacology Analysis. · Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
28.PMID: 39175534 (2024) — Effectiveness and safety of East Asian herbal medicine for menopausal insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · Frontiers in pharmacology
29.PMID: 19339485 (2011) — Prescriptions of Chinese Herbal Medicines for Insomnia in Taiwan during 2002. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
30.PMID: 39147551 (2024) — Effect of different extraction methods on the lipid composition and antioxidant activity of Ziziphi spinosae semens oil. · Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)