Effects of hotrienol, a characteristic aroma compound in second flush Darjeeling tea on sleep

Abstract

Effects on sleep of bedtime inhalation of hotrienol, a characteristic compound of second flush Darjeeling tea were investigated. Sleep variables determined from psychological assessment questionnaires on sleep, stress and physical activity data were compared between the hotrienol diffusion condition and the water diffusion control condition. Significant decreases in PSQI-J total score and stress score and significant increases in OSA factor scores such as drowsiness on awakening, sleep onset and sleep maintenance, dreaming, and feeling refreshed were observed under the hotrienol condition. Among sleep variables, sleep latency, total sleep time and sleep efficiency showed significant variation. These results show improvement of sleep by inhalation of hotrienol at bedtime while at the same time subjective sleep quality and sleep satisfaction also improved.