• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.8-10
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• 1962

Total saponin and oil fraction of Polygala tenuifolia were tested for their anticholesterolemic properties by a "Three day fasting method" on rabbits. It has been reported that saponin have the anticholesterolemic activity, however this activity is not general property of all kinds of saponin. As shown in Table, Polygala saponin has not significant anticholesterolemic activity on rabbits. On administering oil fraction of Radix Polygala, serum cholesterol level in rabbits increased to 224.7% while the control group 43.2%.oup 43.2%.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.178-192
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• 1983

Polygalae Radix was used as diuretics, analgesics and expertorants in oriental medicine. The root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (Polygalaceae) is comprised saponin (Onjisaponin A,B,C,D,E,F and G) polygalitol, onsitin and sugars. The pharmacological action of crude Polygala-saponin (PS) obtained from the roots are studied. The following results were obtained; 1) The median lethal dose $(LD_{50})$ of PS in mice is presented 71.1mg/kg s.c. and 694. 5mg/kg p.o.. 2) PS demonstrated diuretic action of relatively long acting duration in mice. 3) The diuretic mechanism of PS was found due to inhibitory effect of renal tubular reabsorption of electrolytes and glomerular vascular dilatation. 4) The group, administered simultaneously PS and cefadroxil monobydrate was significantly increased with PS alone group on diuretic action. Synergistic effect cefadroxil monohydrate on the diuretic action of PS seems due to competitive inhibition of plasma protein binding with PS. 5) PS demonstrated analgesic action by the acetic acid stimulating method and Randall-Selitto test in mice. 6) PS presented antipyretic action against febrile treated with the typhoid vaccine. 7) PS was significantly prolonged against the hypnotic duration of pentobarbital in mice. 8) Onset time convulsion and death induced by picrotoxin and strychnine in mice were not delayed. According to the above results, the PS was identified as a pharmacological active component obtained from roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1041-1049
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• 2013

The root of Polygala radix has been widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal stuff that improves memory. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Polygala radix hot water extracts (PRHWE) on cognitive function related to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) derived from neural cells (PC12) in addition to antioxidant activity was examined both in a cell-free system and live cells. First, in the study on cell viability using an MTT assay, PRHWE did not exhibit any cell toxicity at 0.1% (w/v) or below. It also was observed that PRHWE increased the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, PRHWE had a protective effect on DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the AchE activity decreased with increasing concentrations. In addition, PRHWE increased the expression level of SOD-1 and NOS-2 in PC12 cells. Moreover, the transcriptional activities of p53 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were reduced in the presence of PRHWE in an experiment using a reporter gene assay. Therefore, these results prove that PRHE has antioxidative and protective effects on neuronal cells, suggesting that it may have great potential as a therapeutic agent for human health.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 1995

MeOH extracts of eight herbal medicines were investigated for the effects on catecholamine biosynthesis and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in PC12 cells. Among them, the MeOH extracts of Polygalae Radix and Rehmaniae Radix showed 32 and 22% inhibition on the dopamine biosynthesis, respectively at a concentration of $40{\mu}g/ml$ medium. But, the TH activity was reduced by the treatment of Polygalae Radix. These results suggest that Polygalae Radix has an inhibitory effect on the catecholamine biosynthesis by the reduction of TH activity in PC12 cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 1988

The effect of ethanol extracts of Gilkyung(Platicodi Radix, Platicodongrandiflorum A, DC), Onji(Polygalae Radix, Polygala tennuifolia Willdenow) and Deoduk(Codonopsis lanceolate Radix, Codonopsis lanceolata) on expectorant activity of rat trachea was investigated. Following treatment of 50% ethanol extract of these medicinal plants (25 mg/rat), the content of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and histamine in tissue was significantly increased. The secretions of acid glycoproteins and the artificially injected phenol red were also increased. However, there was no significant difference except Onji From the histological study through periodic acid Schiff and alcian blue stain, the thickness of inner membrane of acinar glands and the stained glycoproteins on surface of epithelium and on the glands were observed in all the rats trachea treated with extract of medicinal plants. In vitro, the viscosity of mucin solution was slightly decreased with an addition of the extracts. Onji showed the most effective expectorant activity among them at the identical conditions. The mechanism of expectorant activity of these medicinal plants seems to be due to stimulation of secretion and changes of rheological properties of mucus.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.105-114
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• 2020

Background: Exploring the pharmacokinetic (PK) changes of various active components of single herbs and their combinations is necessary to elucidate the compatibility mechanism. However, the lack of chemical standards and low concentrations of multiple active ingredients in the biological matrix restrict PK studies. Methods: A putative multiple reaction monitoring strategy based on liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was developed to extend the PK scopes of quantification without resorting to the use of chemical standards. First, the compounds studied, including components with available reference standard (ARS) and components lacking reference standard (LRS), were preclassified to several groups according to their chemical structures. Herb decoctions were then subjected to ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis with appropriate collision energy (CE) in MS² mode. Finally, multiple reaction monitoring transitions transformed from MS² of ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used for ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to obtain the mass responses of LRS components. LRS components quantification was further performed by developing an assistive group-dependent semiquantitative method. Results: The developed method was exemplified by the comparative PK process of single herbs Radix Ginseng (RG), Radix Polygala (RP), and their combinations (RG-RP). Significant changes in PK parameters were observed before and after combination. Conclusion: Results indicated that Traditional Chinese Medicine combinations can produce synergistic effects and diminish possible toxic effects, thereby reflecting the advantages of compatibility. The proposed strategy can solve the quantitative problem of LRS and extend the scopes of PK studies.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2005

Objectives : Polygalae Radix (PR) from Polygalae tenuifolia (Polygalaceae) has been clinically used as a sedative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial agent. To extend pharmacological effects of PR in the central nervous system (CNS) on the basis of its CNS protective effect, the present study was conducted to identify the effect of PR, whether it shows the neuroprotective action against excitatory neurotoxicity. Methods : To identify the protective effect of PR to excitatory neuro-toxic agent, the present study was focused on the PR effect on cell death, that was caused by applying NMDA to nerve cell, elevation of $(Ca^{2+})_i$, releasement of glutamate, and ROS generation. Result : 1. PR methanol extract, at the concentration range of 0.05 to 5 g/ml, significantly inhibited NMDA (1 mM)-induced neuronal cell death as well as MK-801 (non competitive NMDA antagonist). 2. PR methanol extract $(0.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited NMDA (1 mM)-induced elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. NMDA application in the presence of MK-801 $(10\;{\mu}M)$ failed to produce the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ through all the measurement time. 3. PR methanol extract $(0.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited the NMDA-induced elevation of glutamate release. Also, MK-801 showed similar protective effects. 4. PR methanol extract $(0.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited the NMDA-induced elevation of ROS generation. Also, MK-801 showed similar protective effects. Conclusion : The present study provides the availability of PR to exert its protective effect on the neuronal cell death in various neurodegenerative pathophysiological conditions.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2003

Polygalae Radix (PR) from Polygala tenuifolia. (Polygalaceae) is traditionally used in China and Korea, since this herb has a sedative, antiinflammatory, and antibacterial agent. To extend pharmacological actions of PR in the CNS on the basis of its CNS inhibitory effect, the present study examined whether PR has the neuroprotective action against kainic acid (KA) -induced cell death in primarily cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. PR, over a concentration range of 0.05 to $5{\mu}g/ml$ inhibited KA $(500\;{\mu}M)$-induced neuronal cell death, which was measured by a trypan blue exclusion test and a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. PR $(0.5{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by KA $(500\;{\mu}M)$, which was measured by HPLC. Pretreatment of PR $(0.5{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited KA $(500\;{\mu}M)$-induced elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_c)$ which was measured by a fluorescent dye, Fura 2-AM, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that PR prevents KA-induced neuronal cell damage in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.598-604
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• 1995

The contents in large intestine of Sprague Dawley rats fed polygalae radix(Polygala tennuifolia), onion(Allium cepa) and mugwort(Artemisia asiatica)-supplemented diets for 14 days were analysed for changes of major intestinal microflora, activities of ${\beta}-glucosidase\;and\;{\beta}-glucuronidase$ and amounts of putrefactive products such as indole and volatile basic nitrogen. The rats having ingested $5%{\sim}10%$ mugwort water or ethanol extract-supplemented diets showed a significant increase in intestinal bifido-bacteria and a decrease in clostridia and E. coli (p<0.05). And 10% onion juice group also showed a similar beneficial microflora change. In 5% mugwort powder-supplemented group, ${\beta}-glucosidase\;and\;{\beta}-glucuronidase$ activities in the intestinal contents were lowered, but the changes were not significant. Indole contents and pH in this group were significantly low compared with that of control (p<0.05). However, the activities of ${\beta}-glucosidase$ in 5% polygalae radix water extract and 10% onion juice-supplemented group and ${\beta}-glucuronidase\;in\;5%{\sim}10%$ mugwort water and ethanol extract-supplemented group were significantly higher than those of control (p<0.05). The intestinal indole contents of rats were significantly increased by feeding diet with water extract of polygalae radix and ethanol extract of mugwort which had brought comparatively large amount of protein in intestine (p<0.05). However, polygalae radix, onion, and mugwort-supplemented group had no effect on volatile basic nitrogen.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2017

P-methoxycinnamic acid and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid are the compounds found in Polygalae Radix, the root of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow, and have been reported to have hepatoprotective and anti-neurodegenerative effects. On the other hand, there are no reports of their effects on gastric lesions. This study examined the inhibitory effects of cinnamic acids, including p-methoxycinnamic acid, 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid, and 8 compounds (cinnamic acid, 2-(trifluoromethyl) cinnamic acid, 3-(trifluoromethyl) cinnamic acid, trans-4-(trifluoromethyl) cinnamic acid, 4-(dimethylamino) cinnamic acid, 3,4-(methylenedioxy) cinnamic acid and 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid), which were selected based on their presence in medicinal herbs and molecular weight, against gastric lesions. Animal models were used to confirm the protective effects on acute gastritis caused by the administration of HCl/EtOH. Gastric acid inhibition was examined by an acid-neutralizing test and the proton pump ($H^+/K^+$-ATPase) inhibiting activity. In addition, antioxidant tests were performed and the gastric emptying rate was determined. The results showed that cinnamic acid, p-methoxycinnamic acid, and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid had an inhibitory effect on gastric lesions.