Pharmacology of polygala tenuifolia and its significance in traditional Chinese medicine

The dried root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., known as Polygala Radix, belonging to the family Polygalaceae, has long been used as a medication to cure a variety of illnesses, including sleeplessness, forgetfulness, sadness, cough, and palpitations. In Southeast Asia, especially China, Polygala tenuifolia Willd is a significant industrial and export plant. The benefits of Polygala tenuifolia's rhizomes on cognition and nootropics are well-known. As a result, this plant has been used as traditional medicine for many of years. The online databases, including Scopus, web of science, Google Scholar, and PubMed, were searched using different keywords: Polygala Radix, Polygala tenuifolia, traditional uses, neuroprotective activity, Chinese herb. The purpose of this review was, therefore, to summarise the previously reported phytochemistry & pharmacological actions of the chosen plant species. The concentrations of the active ingredients such as tenuifolin, polygalaxanthone III, sibiricose A5, 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose, and sibiricaxanthone B of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. from the primary cultivation regions of China were determined in this study. A wide range of pharmacological actions, including neuroprotective, depressive, hypnotic-sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and antiarrhythmic effects, are present in the isolated components and extracts from Polygala Radix. Polygala Radix, the root of Polygala tenuifolia, has a variety of therapeutic benefits, especially for neurological disorders. Polygala tenuifolia roots also have pharmacological actions associated with anti-inflammatory activity. This review can deepen knowledge of Polygala Radix and offer opportunities for further study. The different chemical compounds isolated from Polygala Radix exhibited a wide range of pharmacological actions, such as anti-tumor activity, antioxidant activity, cardiovascular activity, and neuroprotective effects. This review will benefit the researchers to further research on Polygala Radix to overcome the limitations.