Pharmacological activity of sanchi ginseng (Panax notoginseng)

Abstract

The pharmacological activity and constituents of the sanchi ginseng Panax notoginseng have been reviewed. The bulk of pharmacological findings have been based on the saponins or steryl glycosides, although polysaccharides with immunopotentiating activity, proteins with antifungal, ribonuclease and xylanase activity, and a triacylglycerol (trilinolein) with antioxidant activity have been reported. Protective actions against cerebral ischaemia, beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, and haemostatic, antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective, renoprotective and estrogen-like activities have been described. Various methods for authentication of P. notoginseng are available.

Notoginsenoside R<sub>1</sub> Attenuates Hypoxia and Hypercapnia-Induced Vasoconstriction <i>In Vitro</i> by Reducing the Expression of p38

“…PNS, a compound of various saponins, is extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginseng [13]. Recent studies have shown that PNS has effects on the blood vessels dilation, the removal of free radicals and the specific inhibition of Ca 2+ channels of vascular smooth muscle cells [14] [15].…”

Induction of apoptosis in human lung carcinoma cells by the water extract of Panax notoginseng is associated with the activation of caspase-3 through downregulation of Akt

“…Over thirteen different species of ginseng have been identified (1,2). Within the Panax genus, P. notoginseng Burk.…”

“…F.H. Chen (Araliaceae) (Sanqi or Tianqi in Chinese) is a highly valuable and important herb in Oriental traditional medicine for its therapeutic abilities to stop hemorrhaging and to influence blood circulation; it is also the most common drug used to treat chronic liver disease in Korea (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). The main root of P. notoginseng, called notoginseng, is also known to have many pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects and it is also known to alter the functional balance of the immune system (8,9).…”

A ginseng‐derived oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) agonist, Rb1 ginsenoside, attenuates capillary morphogenesis

“…The genus name Panax means 'cure all' in Greek; it, thus, comes as no surprise that ginseng has been described as beneficial in many different ailments (Huang, 1999;Kiefer and Pantuso, 2003;Ng, 2006). Perhaps the most studied biological actions of ginseng extracts and constituents are those relating to its inhibitory effects on solid tumour growth (Yun, 2001).…”