Pukyong National University Confirms Sleep-Improving Effects of Lime Peel Comparable to Sleeping Pills

Kim Sunghui Publishes Research on Lime Peel Extract's Sleep Benefits
in a Top-tier International Journal of Alternative Medicine

According to Pukyong National University (President Bae Sanghoon), Kim Sunghui, a doctoral student majoring in Food Engineering, announced research findings showing that lime peel extract has an outstanding effect on improving sleep in humans.

Kim Sunghui published her paper, "Efficacy and safety of standardized lime peel supplement in adults with sleep disturbance: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, polysomnographic study" (supervised by Professor Cho Seungmok), in a recent issue of an international journal ranked in the top 5% in the field of alternative medicine (IF: 6.7).

In this study, Kim Sunghui conducted a clinical trial using polysomnography. The results showed that lime peel extract produced statistically significant improvements in key sleep indicators, such as increased sleep efficiency, increased total sleep time, reduced sleep latency, decreased wake time after sleep onset, and increased Stage 2 sleep.

Notably, lime peel extract increased sleep efficiency by approximately 8.5%, a level comparable to well-known sleep medications. This research has been featured in the "People Who Brighten Korea" section of the Biological Research Information Center (BRIC) and was also highlighted as a major article in the global functional food media outlet "NutraIngredients," attracting significant attention.

Last year, Kim Sunghui and Professor Cho Seungmok published the world's first study elucidating the preclinical sleep effects and mechanisms of lime peel extract in a top 5% international journal in the field of pharmacy (IF: 6.9). The current follow-up clinical study has further confirmed its efficacy.

Additionally, while studying, Kim Sunghui joined Nutra-it, a venture company founded by her advisor, and has been conducting research for the industrialization of lime peel. Recently, she signed NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) with global functional food companies regarding lime peel extract and is in discussions for full-scale export. This year, she is also expecting to obtain individual recognition for functional ingredients in domestic health functional foods and NDI approval from the US FDA.

Professor Cho Seungmok stated, "Faculty entrepreneurship or research commercialization in laboratories with excellent research outcomes is a good option for continuous research and nurturing talent. Especially in food engineering, which is highly applicable and practical, industrialization research is suitable for developing graduate students' practical skills, and we will continue to expand such research in the future."

Seonghee Kim, PhD Candidate.