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Fermented Gastrodia elata Bl. (FGE) attenuates pentylenetetrazole-induced sleep disturbances in zebrafish by modulating gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism to promote 5-HT homeostasis

FGE significantly attenuated PTZ-induced insomnia behavior, circadian rhythm disturbances, and compromised gut barrier functions in zebrafish. The study identified gut microbiota as a key mediator and amino acid metabolism as the central mechanistic pathway through which FGE promotes 5-HT homeostasis and protects against short-term sleep disturbances.

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score24/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Fermented Gastrodia elata Bl. Intervenes gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism in zebrafish to promote 5-HT homeostasis against sleep disturbances.

observational

Zhang C, Zhang X, Qiu H, Song Q, Wang Y, Zhang C, Zhang Q · Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) (2025)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Fermented Gastrodia elata Bl. (FGE) supplementation
Outcome: Insomnia behavior, circadian rhythm disturbances, gut barrier function, 5-HT levels in different tissues, gut microbiota composition, amino acid metabolism
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Zebrafish with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced sleep disturbances

Result:

PubMed: 40597484DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116757

Mechanism Graph

FGE modulates gut microbiota composition
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FGE alters amino acid metabolism-related pathways
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Remodeling of intestinal microbial structure and metabolites drives 5-HT homeostasis in different tissues
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FGE attenuates PTZ-induced insomnia behavior and circadian rhythm disturbances

Limitations

  • ⚠Animal model (zebrafish) may not directly translate to human sleep disturbances
  • ⚠Short-term sleep disturbance model only, long-term effects not assessed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fermented Gastrodia elata Bl. (FGE)?▼

FGE is a fermented form of Gastrodia elata Bl., a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, used as a dietary supplement to prevent sleep disturbances.

How does FGE affect sleep in this study?▼

FGE attenuated pentylenetetrazole-induced insomnia behavior and circadian rhythm disturbances in zebrafish by modulating gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism to promote 5-HT homeostasis.

What is the role of gut microbiota in FGE's effect?▼

Gut microbiota was identified as a key mediator and potential therapeutic target for FGE, as shown by fecal microbiota transplantation experiments and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Is FGE safe for human use?▼

This study did not assess human safety; it was conducted in zebrafish. Further research is needed to evaluate safety and efficacy in humans.

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References

  1. 1.Zhang C, Zhang X, Qiu H, Song Q, Wang Y, Zhang C, Zhang Q. "Fermented Gastrodia elata Bl. Intervenes gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism in zebrafish to promote 5-HT homeostasis against sleep disturbances.." Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.), 2025. PMID: 40597484 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116757
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.