Objective To explore the formulation rules of existing sleep-improving health foods, construct “data mining statistics-medicine and edible homology/classical formula screening-traditional Chinese medicine theoretical interpretation” new formula system and investigate its potential mechanisms of action. Methods The publicly available record information of sleep-improving health foods was collected from the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the raw materials and compatibility rules were analyzed. Based on the data mining results, a novel sleep-improving formula of medicine and edible homology was constructed. Network pharmacology was used to predict the potential action targets and signaling pathways, and molecular docking was performed to verify the binding affinity between active components and core targets. Results A total of 541 sleep-improving health foods meeting the inclusion criteria were included, involving 154 Chinese medicinal materials. The high-frequency materials included Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), and Fuling (Poria). Their nature and taste are mainly sweet and neutral, and its meridians mainly focus on the heart and liver meridians. Association rule analysis revealed core drug pairs such as “Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus-Ziziphi Spinosae Semen” and “Poria-Ziziphi Spinosae Semen”. Capsules, tablets, and granules were the main dosage forms. The usage and dosage were mainly 1–2 times daily, and 99.8% of the products did not specify a course of administration. Besides the core function of sleep improvement, these products often also claimed enhancing immunity and relieving physical fatigue as combined functions. The suitable population was primarily individuals with poor sleep status, while the unsuitable population mainly included children, pregnant and lactating women. A novel formula consisting of Baihe (Lilii Bulbus), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) was constructed. Network pharmacology predicted 42 active components, 760 action targets, among which 189 were associated with sleep, 196 with immune enhancement, and 63 with gut microbiota regulation. The enrichment analysis indicated that the main pathways involved neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxykinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, and endocrine resistance, which are closely related to sleep improvement, immune enhancement, and gut microbiota regulation. Molecular docking showed that the active components of the novel formula bound well with the core targets. Conclusion A new formula of health food for improving sleep, “Lilii Bulbus-Rehmanniae Radix-Ziziphi Spinosae Semen-Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Puerariae Lobatae Radix”, is screened out. Its sleep-improving effect is mainly closely related to enhancing immunity and regulating intestinal microbiota, which provides scientific theoretical support for the subsequent development of health products for sleep improvement..

data mining  /  network pharmacology  /  sleep  /  health food  /  formulation pattern  /  medicinal and edible homology  /  Lilii Bulbus-Rehmanniae Radix-Ziziphi Spinosae Semen-Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Puerariae Lobatae Radix