Therapeutic potential of genus Polygonatum in common neuropsychiatric disorders: The revival of an ancient remedy in modern medicine.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polygonatum is a genus within the family Asparagaceae, widely utilized in traditional medicine. Modern studies have substantiated its pharmacological properties, including anti-aging, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, memory-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Recently, research on Polygonatum in the neuropsychiatric disorders has increased.

AIM OF STUDY

This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the medicinal plants and prescriptions from Polygonatum in the neuropsychiatric disorders, chemical components, and pharmacological and toxicological research evidence. It provides an extensive reference for the development of Polygonatum medicinal resources and the advancement of research in neuropsychiatric therapeutics.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and CNKI, along with sources like the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" and other herbal medicine books. Keywords such as "Polygonatum", "neurological disorders", "Alzheimer's disease", and "toxicity" were employed to collate evidence of the traditional therapeutic effects, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Polygonatum species.

RESULTS

The genus Polygonatum comprises 86 species, of which 36 are medicinally utilized. There are 47 prescriptions containing Polygonatum species relevant to the prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. A total of 427 compounds have been isolated from this genus, including 83 polysaccharides, 176 saponins, 83 flavonoids, 47 alkaloids, and 38 other components. The pharmacological actions of Polygonatum herbs include anti-aging, neuroprotection, sleep promotion, immune modulation, anti-fatigue, anti-diabetic, memory enhancement, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, showing improvement in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, depression, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with no apparent toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Polygonatum herbs hold potential as therapeutic agents for neuropsychiatric disorders, presenting significant implications for the development of neurological drugs and the utilization of medicinal plant resources.