Protective effects of tenuifolin isolated from Polygala tenuifolia Willd roots on neuronal apoptosis and learning and memory deficits in mice with Alzheimer's disease.

The roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd have a long history of being used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia, forgetfulness, sorrow and depression. Tenuifolin (TEN) has been isolated from Polygala tenuifolia Willd roots, and this study was carried out to investigate the potential beneficial effects of TEN on neuronal apoptosis and memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). TEN treatment reversed spatial learning and memory deficits, as well as neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal areas, in APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice.