Aromatherapy With Nardostachys Jatamansi <scp>DC.</scp> Essential Oil Targeting the <scp>MAOA</scp> Gene Regulates Cardiac Neural Remodeling and Amino Acid Metabolism to Alleviate Sleep Deprivation‐Induced Myocardial Injury

Sleep deprivation (SD) adversely affects cognition, as well as physical and mental health, and is closely linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of aromatherapy with Nardostachys jatamansi DC. essential oil on SD-induced myocardial injury remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of aromatherapy with Nardostachys jatamansi DC. essential oil in mitigating SD-induced myocardial injury and to elucidate the associated mechanisms. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and behavioral tests were employed to evaluate sleep and emotional responses. Serum myocardial injury markers were quantified using ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Masson, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining were performed to observe cardiac structure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography assessed cardiac function. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis of myocardial mRNA from sleep-deprived mice was conducted and cross-referenced with the predicted target genes of Nardostachys jatamansi DC., followed by functional enrichment analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to investigate compound-target interactions. Cardiac neural remodeling and amino acid metabolism were examined using immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Western blotting, and targeted metabolic assays. Aromatherapy with Nardostachys jatamansi DC. essential oil improved brain wave activity and alleviated anxiety and depression in sleep-deprived mice. Additionally, it mitigated SD-induced myocardial injury and restored cardiac function. Mechanistically, the essential oil primarily targeted the MAOA gene, modulating cardiac neural remodeling and amino acid metabolism to alleviate myocardial injury caused by SD. Aromatherapy with Nardostachys jatamansi DC: essential oil alleviates SD-induced myocardial injury by targeting the MAOA gene to regulate cardiac neural remodeling and amino acid metabolism. This study provides novel insights into therapeutic strategies and mechanisms for SD-induced myocardial injury.