Radix polygalae

Polygalae radix, also known as senegal root, is a drug used in herbal medicines to treat, among other things, an upper respiratory catarrh.

Polygalae radix contains saponins (6 to 10% - common aglycon = presenegin); the main saponin = Senegin II and saponin Tenuifolin; furthermore polygalic acid, coumaric acid, salicylic acid, methysalicylate and oligosaccharides.

The Senega root has a secretolytic and expectorant effect. Furthermore, antidepressant effects are attributed to the extract.

Polygalae radix is used according to commission E for the treatment of a catarrh of the upper airways. Further indications according to the ESCOP or WHO monograph are chronic bronchitis, productive cough or emphysema.

The daily dosage is 1.5 to 3.0 g of the drug, when using a fluid extract it is also 1.5 to 3.0 g, when using a tincture 2.5 to 7.5 g

Prolonged use of Senega root may cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.

There are no known contraindications.

There are no known interactions with other drugs.

1. Liu P et al (2010) Potential antidepressant properties of Radix Polygalae (Yuan Zhi). Phytomedicine 17:794-799.
2. Shin IJ et al (2014) Preclinical evidence of rapid-onset antidepressant-like effect in Radix Polygalae extract. PLoS One 9:e88617.
3. Zhang H et al (2007) Effects of tenuifolin extracted from radix polygalae on learning and memory: a behavioral and biochemical study on aged and amnesic mice. Phytomedicins 15:587-594.
4. Zhao Z et al (2013) Potential antiarrhythmic effect of methyl 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate, a bioactive substance from roots of polygalae radix: suppression of triggered activities in rabbit myocytes. Biol Pharm Bull 36:238-244.