Rankings / Cognitive — Nootropics
Polygala tenuifolia
Cognitive · TCM herb
Tier C+
bdnfcholinergicotc
5.2 / 10
Tier C+
Ev 3.0 Bn 5.0 Sf 7.0 Ax 10.0
What this is
Traditional Chinese 'yuan zhi' (远志) — used for memory and sleep for millennia. Modern data limited mostly to Chinese literature and preclinical work. Saponins can be GI-irritating.
Mechanism
Tenuifolin and triterpenoid saponins; increase BDNF and NGF; modulate cholinergic system; sigma-1 receptor activity
Dose & route
100-300 mg extract/day
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19027057/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30034462/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4103711/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.