Polygala tenuifolia explained

Polygala tenuifolia (yuǎn zhì; Chinese: s=远志|links=no) is an herb in the family Polygalaceae which is hardy to USDA Zone 6.

Phytochemistry

P. tenuifolia contains tenuifolin, senegenin, and polygalacic acid.^[1]

Medicinal uses

Yuan zhi is used primarily as an expectorant.^[2] It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called yuǎn zhì and believed to have neuropsychiatric effects. It has been studied as a potential drug source in depression^[3] and Alzheimer's.^[4] However, quality of the herb varies widely, and as of 2020 there have been no toxicological studies or clinical trials.

Notes and References

1. Polygala tenuifolia: a source for anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs . Pharmaceutical Biology . 2020 . 32429787 . Deng . X. . Zhao . S. . Liu . X. . Han . L. . Wang . R. . Hao . H. . Jiao . Y. . Han . S. . Bai . C. . 58 . 1 . 410–416 . 10.1080/13880209.2020.1758732 . 7301717 .
2. Web site: Polygala tenuifolia - Willd. database report . Plants for A Future . 1996–2012 . April 6, 2013.
3. Shin . Im-Joon . Son . Sung Un . Park . Hyunwoo . Kim . Yoorim . Park . Sung Hyun . Swanberg . Kelley . Shin . Joo-Yeon . Ha . Sang-Kyu . Cho . Yoonju . Bang . Soo-Yong . Lew . Jae-Hwan . Cho . Seung-Hun . Maeng . Sungho . 2014 . Preclinical evidence of rapid-onset antidepressant-like effect in Radix Polygalae extract . PLOS ONE . 9 . 2 . e88617 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0088617 . 1932-6203 . 3919798 . 24520403 . 2014PLoSO...988617S . free .
4. Deng . Xinxin . Zhao . Shipeng . Liu . Xinqi . Han . Lu . Wang . Ruizhou . Hao . Huifeng . Jiao . Yanna . Han . Shuyan . Bai . Changcai . 2020-01-01 . Polygala tenuifolia : a source for anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs . Pharmaceutical Biology . en . 58 . 1 . 410–416 . 10.1080/13880209.2020.1758732 . 1388-0209 . 7301717 . 32429787.