Notoginsenosides

Notoginsenosides are a class of natural products found in Panax notoginseng, a traditional medicinal plant also known as notoginseng or sanqi. They are dammarane-type saponins closely related to ginsenosides and have been investigated for cardiovascular and hemostatic effects.

Chemically, notoginsenosides are glycosides derived from the dammarane triterpenoid skeleton. They exist mainly as protopanaxadiol or protopanaxatriol aglycones with multiple sugar units attached at various positions, producing a family of related compounds. Individual molecules are commonly designated as notoginsenoside R1, R2, R3, R4 and as Fa, Fb, Fc, and other designations reflecting different sugar compositions and linkages.

Source and use: The primary source is the root of Panax notoginseng. In traditional Chinese medicine, notoginseng is used to stop bleeding and to promote blood circulation. Standardized extracts containing notoginsenosides are used in dietary supplements and in some prescription formulations.

Pharmacology: Notoginsenosides exhibit a range of activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects in preclinical studies. They can influence platelet aggregation and thrombosis and may modulate signaling pathways related to vascular function. Oral bioavailability is limited for many glycosides, and gut microbiota can metabolize them to active aglycones.

Analysis and safety: Quality control of notoginseng products often relies on measuring notoginsenosides by HPLC or LC-MS. Safety data are limited; potential interactions with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs exist, so use should be guided by healthcare advice.