Abstract: The release characteristics of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from the fruits of ‘Nongda 4’, ‘Nongda 7’ and ‘Yanshan 2’ Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok were studied during in vitro simulated digestion and ‘Nongda 4’ C. humilis (Bge.) Sok, with the highest GABA content, was selected to evaluate the improving effect of its fruit pulp on sleep behavior in mice by acute toxicity test, elevated cross maze test, pentobarbital sodium-indued immediate sleep test, prolonged sleep duration test, and sodium barbiturate-induced sleep latency test. The results showed that oral administration of 800 mg/kg mb C. humilis (Bge.) Sok. fruit pulp could significantly prolong the sleep duration of mice with insomnia (P < 0.05), increase the sleep rate, and shorten the sleep latency. The ameliorative effect may be related to down-regulating the levels of proinflammatory factors and regulating the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Key words: Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok; γ-aminobutyric acid; sleep improvement; relieving anxiety; neurotransmitter