Polygala tenuifolia (yuǎn zhì; Chinese: 远志) is an herb in the family Polygalaceae which is hardy to USDA Zone 6.
| Polygala tenuifolia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Polygalaceae |
| Genus: | Polygala |
| Species: | P. tenuifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Polygala tenuifolia | |
Phytochemistry
editP. tenuifolia contains tenuifolin, senegenin, and polygalacic acid.[1]
Medicinal uses
editYuan 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 (Chinese: 遠志) 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.[4]
References
edit- ^ Deng, X.; Zhao, S.; Liu, X.; Han, L.; Wang, R.; Hao, H.; Jiao, Y.; Han, S.; Bai, C. (2020). "Polygala tenuifolia: a source for anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs". Pharmaceutical Biology. 58 (1): 410–416. doi:10.1080/13880209.2020.1758732. PMC 7301717. PMID 32429787.
- ^ "Polygala tenuifolia - Willd. database report". Plants for A Future. 1996–2012. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ 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. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...988617S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088617. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3919798. PMID 24520403.
- ^ a b 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. 58 (1): 410–416. doi:10.1080/13880209.2020.1758732. ISSN 1388-0209. PMC 7301717. PMID 32429787.