Objective: To investigate the antidepressant components of Polygala tenuifolia.
Method: The chromatographic method was used to isolate and purify the chemical constituents, their structures were identified by spectral analysis, MTT method was applied to investigate their cytotoxic activities.
Result: Nine compounds were isolated from the roots of P. tenuifolia. Their structures were identified as sibiricose A, (1), sibiricose A5 (2), tenuifoliside A (3) and 3', 6-disinapoyl sucrose (4), sibiricose A6 (5), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxycinnamate (6), polygalaxanthone III (7), tenuifolioses A (8), tenuifolioses H (9) and some compounds' activities to PC12 were observed.
Conclusion: Compound 1 was isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 2,3 could protect PC12 cells damage induced by P. tenuifolia.