Coompo Research Chemicals

Senegenin, which is also called tenuigenin, is an effective component of Polygala tenuifolia root extract. Pharmacological data indicated that tenuigenin displayed antiapoptotic and antioxidative activity in hippocampal neurons due to scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species, regulating Bcl-2 family and suppressing caspase-3 activity . Some studies also showed that tenuigenin could protect neuronal cells against toxins such as 6-OHDA or H2O2. In addition, in vitro studies have indicated that tenuigenin treatment suppress secretion of amyloid β protein and attenuate its cytotoxicity, which is a pivotal pathological factor in Alzheimer's disease.

Cognitive dysfunction induced by HIR is associated with reduction of NR2B expression. Senegenin plays a neuroprotective role in HIR via increasing NR2B expression in rat hippocampus. These findings suggest that senegenin might be a potential agent for prevention and treatment of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) or other neurodegenerative diseases.