Radix polygalae

Polygalae radix, also known as senega root, is a drug that is used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, among other things.

HMPC: not processed, processing discontinued

ESCOP monograph: Catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, chronic bronchitis, productive cough

Commission E monograph: Catarrh of the upper respiratory tract

Folk medicine: tracheitis, emphysema, expectorant

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. Nausea, diarrhea, nausea.

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. Phytomedicine 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.
5. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl-Teedrogens and phytopharmaceuticals. 6th edition, Wissemschaftliche Verlagsgescellschaft Stuttgart pp. 512-513