Polygala tenuifolia

Polygala tenuifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Polygalaceae
Genus: Polygala
Species: P. tenuifolia
Binomial name
Polygala tenuifolia
Willd.

Polygala tenuifolia (Yuan Zhi) is an herb in the family Polygalaceae which is hardy to USDA Zone 6.

Medicinal uses

Yuan Zhi is used primarily as an expectorant.[1] It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called yuan zhi (Chinese: 遠志).

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the extract of dried roots of Polygala tenuifolia in healthy adults produced memory-enhancing effects.[2] A similar trial with elderly humans also found significant cognitive improvement.[3] Another study has shown that P. tenuifolia increases NGF secretion in astrocytes.[4]

The root is used in Chinese medicine used for its sedative, antipsychotic, cognition improving, neuroprotective and antidepressant effect.

Preclinically, Radix Polygalae extract has been shown to demonstrate a rapid-onset antidepressant-like effect.[5] One triterpenoid saponin from the roots, Yuanzhi-1, shows significant affinity towards 5-HT, NE and DA transporters and potent antidepressant-like effects.[6]

3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose from Polygala tenuifolia significantly inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B activity, blocked stress-induced elevations of plasma cortisol,[7] improved hippocampal-dependent learning and memory [8] and rescued stress-induced deficits in hippocampal neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis [9]

Radix Polygalae extract also displays anti-inflammatory activity towards microglia [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Polygala tenuifolia - Willd. database report". Plants for A Future. 1996–2012. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  2. ↑ Lee J.-Y., Kim K.Y., Shin K.Y., Won B.Y., Jung H.Y., Suh Y.H. (2009). "Effects of BT-11 on memory in healthy humans". Neuroscience Letters 454 (2): 111–114. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2009.03.024. PMID 19429065.
  3. ↑ Shin K.Y., Lee J.-Y., Won B.Y., Jung H.Y., Chang K.-A., Koppula S., Suh Y.-H. (2009). "BT-11 is effective for enhancing cognitive functions in the elderly humans". Neuroscience Letters 465 (2): 157–159. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2009.08.033.
  4. ↑ Yabe T., Tuchida H., Kiyohara H., Takeda T., Yamada H. (2003). "Induction of NGF synthesis in astrocytes by onjisaponins of Polygala tenuifolia, constituents of kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, Ninjin-yoei-to.". Phytomedicine 10 (2-3): 106–14. doi:10.1078/094471103321659799. PMID 12725562.
  5. ↑ Shin Im-Joon J., Son Sung Un U., Park Hyunwoo; et al. (2014). "Preclinical evidence of rapid-onset antidepressant-like effect in radix polygalae extract.". PLOS ONE 9: e88617. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088617.
  6. ↑ Jin Zeng-liang L., Gao Nana, Zhang Jian-rui R.; et al. (2014). "The discovery of Yuanzhi-1, a triterpenoid saponin derived from the traditional Chinese medicine, has antidepressant-like activity". Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry. 53: 9–14. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.02.013.
  7. ↑ Hu Yuan, Liu Ming, Liu Ping, Guo Dai-Hong H., Wei Ri-Bao B., Rahman Khalid. (2011). "Possible mechanism of the antidepressant effect of 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose from Polygala tenuifolia Willd". The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 63: 869–874. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01281.x.
  8. ↑ Xue Wei, Hu Jin-feng, Yuan Yu-he; et al. (2009). "Polygalasaponin XXXII from Polygala tenuifolia root improves hippocampal-dependent learning and memory". Acta Pharmacologica 30: 1211–1219. doi:10.1038/aps.2009.112.
  9. ↑ Hu Yuan, Liao Hong-Bo, Liu Ping, Dai-Hong Guo, Wang Yu-Yu, Rahman Khalid. (2009). "Antidepressant-like effects of 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose on hippocampal neuronal plasticity and neurotrophic signal pathway in chronically mild stressed rats". Neurochemistry International 56: 461–465. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2009.12.004.
  10. ↑ Cheong Myung-Hee H., Lee Sang-Ryong R., Yoo Hwa-Seung S.; et al. (2011). "Anti-inflammatory effects of Polygala tenuifolia root through inhibition of NF-κB activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV2 microglial cells.". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 137: 1402–1408. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.008.
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