Effects of Natural Extract Rosmarinic Acid on Sleep Quality and Daily Care in Patients with Depression

Abstract

The mechanism of action of rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural extract from rosemary, on sleep quality (SQ) and daily care (DC) in depressed patients was investigated. Firstly, RA was extracted from rosemary and prepared into RA essential oil (RAEO). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was utilized to analyze the chromatography of RA. Subsequently, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 depressed patients admitted to the hospital, who were randomly rolled into an observation (Obs) group (treated with escitalopram (SE) and RA) (n = 30) and a control (Ctrl) group (treated with SE) (n = 30). The efficacy of patients was analyzed before and after they were treated differently at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) of patients in different groups were compared, and the depression status, sleep quality (evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), and overall quality of life (QOL, evaluated using the General Quality of Life Inventory-74, GQOLI-74) were assessed. The HPLC-DAD-MS analysis indicated that the aqueous solution of RA had multiple biological activities. The PSQI score in the Obs group was lower and the GQOLI-74 score was higher, showing great differences with P <0.05 to those in the Ctrl group. Furthermore, the Obs group had much higher Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of treatment (P <0.05). The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores of both groups gradually decreased with the increase of treatment duration, showing great differences before treatment, at the 2nd week, and the 4th week of treatment (P >0.05). However, marked differences were observed at the 6th and 8th weeks in contrast to those before treatment (P <0.05). In the 8th week, patients in the Obs and Ctrl groups exhibited obvious differences to the anxiety levels before treatment (P <0.05). It suggested that the anxiety levels of all patients improved, but that in the Obs group was improved more. In conclusion, the RAEO had a positive impact on sleep quality and daily care in depressed patients, and can serve as a feasible adjunctive treatment method worthy of clinical promotion.