lately ive been looking at supplements for various thing and i found out about this through an ad so looked it up, has anyone tried it or know about it? here are some studies and articles i found:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29056891/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19768354.2014.982176
https://selfhacked.com/blog/polygala-tenuifolia/ from this:
- Polygala tenuifolia Improves Memory
In a study (DB-RCT) with 48 healthy people, polygala improved spatial and verbal memory. Those who received it also made fewer errors and scored better on the test measuring working memory [7].
Polygala extract improved both spatial and non-spatial memory in aged mice [8].
It also improved short-term memory in rats with drug-induced memory impairment [9].
This supplement improves memory by:
• Inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This reduces the breakdown of acetylcholine [10].
• Inhibiting MAO enzymes. This reduces the breakdown of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine [8].
• Increasing BDNF in the brain (hippocampus) [11].
• Promoting the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus (important for the creation of new memories) [12].
- Polygala tenuifolia May Improve Cognitive Function in the Elderly
In a study (DB-RCT) with 53 elderly subjects, polygala extract enhanced cognitive function [13].
Polygala extract also reversed cognitive impairments in rat models of Alzheimer’s disease, and mice models of stroke [10, 14].
- Polygala tenuifolia May Combat Depression
Polygala and its derivatives have antidepressant effects in rats and mice [15, 16, 17, 18, 19].
In mice, a saponin from polygala was more effective than a drug used to treat depression (duloxetine) [18].
Animal studies show that polygala combats depression by:
• Blocking MAO enzymes. This increases dopamine and serotonin levels [15, 18]
• Increasing antioxidant enzymes (SOD) [15]
• Decreasing cortisol and the stress response (HPA axis) [15, 16]
- Polygala tenuifolia May Reduce Anxiety
Mice treated with saponins derived from polygala showed signs of reduced anxiety [20].
- Polygala tenuifolia Is Anti-Inflammatory
Polygala and its derivatives reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and the master-regulator of inflammation NF-κB in white blood cells (macrophages) [21, 2].
Polygala also reduces the production of nitric oxide (NO) and iNOS, thereby reducing inflammation [21]
- Polygala tenuifolia May Improve Sleep
Tenuifolin, derived from polygala, has sleep-enhancing effects in mice. It prolongs both REM and NREM sleep [22].
Polygala saponins also had sedative effects and prolonged sleep in mice [20].
- Polygala tenuifolia May Be Antipsychotic
Polygala saponins reduced drug-induced hyperactivity in mice and rats. They may act by blocking serotonin and dopamine receptors [23].
In addition, polygala extract reduces cocaine-induced psychotic behavior in mice [24].
- Polygala tenuifolia May Help with Dermatitis
Its extract reduces stress-induced dermatitis in mice [25].
- Polygala tenuifolia May Help Combat Cancer
Polygala compounds killed human ovarian and lung cancer cells [26, 27, 28].