GABRA1
GABRA1 GABA-A receptor subunit — the molecular target that 2 compounds in the wiki act on.
In one line: Part of the brain's main "brake" — the GABA receptor that calming compounds press.
GABRA1 is a piece of the GABA-A receptor, the main "brake" in your nervous system. When GABA (or something that mimics it) lands here, the neuron becomes harder to fire — the result is calm, reduced anxiety, and easier sleep.
Gentle compounds like L-theanine and apigenin (from chamomile) nudge this brake softly for relaxed focus and better sleep without knocking you out. Stronger things — alcohol, sleeping pills — press it hard, which sedates but also builds dependence and degrades deep sleep.
Almost everything in the "calm and sleep" category works by pressing this brake to some degree. Gentle and targeted beats hard and blunt.