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Polygala Root
Polygala Root
遠志
Market name:遠志
Photo location:Museum of Materia Medica, Inst. of Nat. Med.
TMPW No.:10825
Polygala tenuifolia
Plant name:Polygala tenuifolia
Photo location:Mongolia
Photo date:2004
Photographer:K. Komatsu

Synonym  
Latin name Polygalae Radix
Botanical source: Family name Polygalaceae
Botanical source: Plant name Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow (IPNI:692440-1)
Part used Root, from which the central woody portion has been removed
Empirical criteria for quality selection Good one is enlarged, thick and has irregular surface. Neither thin nor stiff one is good (TN).
Constituents Monosaccharides:
Polygalitol

Triterpenoids:
β-Amyrin

Triterpenoid saponins:
Onjisaponin A (= Senegin IV), Onjisaponin B (= Senegin III), Onjisaponin C, Onjisaponin D, Onjisaponin E, Onjisaponin F, Onjisaponin G

Phenylpropanoids:
3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamic acid

Xanthones:
3-Hydroxy-2,6,7,8-tetramethoxyxanthone, 2,6,7,8-Tetramethoxyxanthone, 2,3,6,7,8-Pentamethoxyxanthone

Flavanones & Dihydroflavonols:
Onsitin
Pharmacological effects Inhibition of phosphodiesterase (onjisaponin B, E, F); central nervous system inhibition (onjisaponin F)
Indications As a tranquilizer, expectorant and tonic, it is applied to treat forgetfulness, dream-disturbed sleep, cough, phlegm-heat and carbuncles.
Diseases Palpitation, Insomnia, Amnesia, Dementia, Cough, A lot of sputum, Pyogenic dermatosis
Formulas kamiuntanto , kamikihito , kihito , ninjin'yoeito
Meridian tropism Lung, Heart, Kidney
Property Warm
Flavor Bitter, Acrid/pungent
Classification in "Shen-non Ben-cao Jing" Superior
TCM: Classification Sedatives and tranquilizers
TCM: Medicinal effects To induce sedation and benefit mentality, to promote expectoration, and to cause subsidence of swelling.
Used for insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, forgetfulness, palpitation, trance, cough with sputum difficult to expectorate, boils and sores, swelling and pain in the breast.
Remarks Listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th ed.
References TN: T. Namba & Y. Tsuda ed., Outline of Pharmacognosy, a Textbook, 3rd ed., Nankodo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 1998.
DNA sequences of medicinal plants
Gene Region
Nuclear Chloroplast Mitochondria
Botanical source: Plant name 5Ss 18S ITS1 5.8S ITS2 26S others trnH-psbA matK trnK trnK-rps16 trnT-L trnL trnL-F rbcL rpoC1 ndhF others
Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow (IPNI:692440-1)
 

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Section of Pharmacognosy,
Division of Medicinal Resources,
Department of Research and Development,
Institute of Natural Medicine,
University of Toyama
2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194 Japan
TEL: +81-76-434-7601
FAX: +81-76-434-5064