The application of Panax notoginseng with a focus on its anti-inflammatory effect: a narrative review

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) has traditionally been used to support circulatory health. Its higher ginsenoside content and the presence of notoginsenoside R1 distinguish it from Panax ginseng and contribute to broader therapeutic potential. This review summarizes the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of P. notoginseng and their relevance to cardiovascular, hepatic, and metabolic disorders.

A structured search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was performed on December 20, 2024, covering January 2010 to July 2024. Studies published in English that provided mechanistic insights into anti-inflammatory activity in relation to P. notoginseng were included. Commentaries and studies without mechanistic detail were excluded. Screening was conducted independently by two authors.

P. notoginseng modulates key inflammatory pathways-including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), modulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cytokine regulation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function-supporting its benefits in vascular injury, liver inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and gut-liver axis imbalance. Its unique phytochemical profile explains its stronger cardiovascular and hepatoprotective actions compared to P. ginseng.

The broad pharmacological activities of P. notoginseng are largely driven by its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These findings provide a framework for its clinical relevance and highlight the need for further translational and integrative research.