Traditional Herbal Remedies Used for Managing Anxiety and Insomnia in Italy: An Ethnopharmacological Overview

Riccardo Motti,Bruna de Falco

doi:10.3390/horticulturae7120523

Riccardo Motti, Bruna de Falco

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120523

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Abstract

Anxiety and insomnia are among the most common mental health disorders and are a major cause of disability around the world. Traditional herbal medicines are receiving significant attention in global health debates. Several Italian regions maintain rural traditions and are among the most extensively studied areas of Europe regarding medicinal plant uses. The present overview aims to highlight the use of wild and cultivated plants, specifically as sedatives and for insomnia treatment in Italy, and to collect, analyze, and summarize the available literature about their pharmacological activity as well as clinical and pre-clinical studies concerning the most cited plants. In total, 106 wild taxa are used in Italy for sedative purposes. The plant species belong to 76 genera and 32 families, of which the most cited are Asteraceae (24.2%) and Lamiaceae (21.1%). Leaves (29%) and flowers (27%) are the plant parts mostly used as infusion (70%) and decoction (25%). Out of 106 taxa documented, only the most cited are analyzed in this overview (A. arvensis L., C. nepeta L., C. monogyna Jacq., H. lupulus L., L. nobilis L., L. angustifolia Mill., M. sylvestris L., M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L., O. basilicum L., P. rhoeas L., P. somniferum L., R. officinalis L., T. platyphyllus Scop., and V. officinalis L.). Among the fifteen species selected, only seven have been studied for their pharmacological activity as hypnotic-sedatives. Future pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed to better clarify the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds and confirm the potential of these alternative therapies.

Highlights

Based on the 65 studies providing adequate and relevant data, 106 wild taxa used in Italy for sedative purposes have been documented (Table 1)
Asteraceae (24.2%) and Lamiaceae (21.1%) are the most frequently cited families, followed by Apiaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae (5.3%), and Malvaceae, Papaveraceae, Rutaceae, and Valerianaceae (4.2%). This could probably be attributed to the similar distribution, from both quantitative and qualitative points of view, of the analog active substances among species, especially those of families Lamiaceae and Asteraceae [38,39]
This study suggested that the H. lupulus fraction containing α-acids can be considered as the major responsible for the enhanced pentobarbital effect

Summary

Introduction

Anxiety and insomnia are among the most common mental health disorders and are a major cause of disability around the world [1,2,3,4]. GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) [5]. Has received increasing attention in recent years as a prevalent disorder associated with significant impairment [6]. Patients with GAD complain that they worry excessively, are excessively aroused, have heightened muscle tension, and a have variety of autonomic symptoms [7]. The impact of the anxiety is not limited to consistent stress, which is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and has debilitating physical manifestations such as headaches, uncontrolled trembling, and sweating [8]. Insomnia symptoms are generally considered to encompass difficulty in initiating sleep, disrupted sleep, and early morning awakenings [9]

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