Study Development on Cognitive Benefits of Radix Polygalae
中药远志改善记忆障碍研究进展

Radix polygalae is the root Polygala tenuifolia Willd.or P.sibirica L.(Fam.Polygalaceae).In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),Radix polygalae is one of vital ingredients most frequently used for mental health during the past 1800 years.Based on the history of human using,there is a hypothesis that Radix polygalae can improve memory.Recently,BT-11,the extract of dried root of Radix polygalae,was developed in Korea as a functional diet with cognition enhancing activity.Over the past decades,a number of animal studies also sustained that Radix polygalae extracts are able to improve learning and memory in innate aging and Alzheimer’s disease laboratory models.Its nootropic effects were attributed to AChE inhibitory,anti-oxidant and neuro-genetic activities.Phytochemically,tenuigenin,a principal fraction,is probably responsible for the cognitive benefits delivered by Radix polygalae.A variety of mechanisms of action(MOA) were underlied hereof including cholinergic,antioxidant,neurogenetic,and anti-Aβ activities.Furthermore,tenuifolin,sinapic acid,and onjisaponins have been isolated and identified as active components behind.To sum up,it is concluded that Radix polygalae is likely to exert a holistic memory-improving effect due to multiple MOA and actives.