Exploring the mechanism of Caulis Sinomenii in treating sleep disorders based on network pharmacology

Background: Sleep disorders, characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, are associated with reduced quality of life and increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and heart failure. Caulis Sinomenii, a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, has been used clinically for centuries, but its molecular mechanisms in sleep regulation remain unclear. Methods: Potential targets of Caulis Sinomenii and sleep disorders were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM), and GeneCards databases. Intersecting targets were identified using Venny analysis, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed via STRING, and Cytoscape software was used to determine core genes. Results: A total of 100 Caulis Sinomenii-related and 1969 sleep disorder-related targets were identified, with 57 overlapping genes. Ten core targets, including GRIN2B, SLC6A3, DRD2, HTR1A, GRIN2A, HTR2A, HTR2C, SLC6A4, HTR1B, and HTR3A, were highlighted by topological analysis. GO analysis revealed that these genes are mainly involved in chemical synaptic transmission, G protein-coupled receptor and adenylate cyclase-mediated signaling, and neurotransmitter receptor activity. KEGG analysis showed enrichment in neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, calcium signaling, and cAMP signaling pathways, which are closely linked to sleep regulation and neurotransmitter homeostasis. Conclusion: Network pharmacology analysis suggests that Caulis Sinomenii may exert therapeutic effects on sleep disorders through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Core genes such as GRIN2A and GRIN2B may influence glutamate signaling and neuroprotection, potentially modulating sleep homeostasis. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Caulis Sinomenii in treating sleep disorders and a foundation for further research into its molecular mechanisms and drug development.