Processing-driven chemical transformations and pharmacological shifts in Panax notoginseng

The processing of Panax notoginseng (PN) is a quintessential example of the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "different uses for raw and processed products", embodied in the theory of "raw for dispersing while processed for tonifying". However, few studies are available summarizing the corresponding chemical transformations and pharmacological shifts.

This review aims to synthesize current research to elucidate the processing-driven chemical transformations and pharmacological shifts in PN.

Focused on the core topic of chemical transformations and pharmacological shifts in PN driven by processing, a systematic search of eligible literature published since 2015 was conducted across several databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Database, the WanFang Database, and the Chinese Science and Technology Journals Database.

Key findings indicate that heat-based processing significantly reduces hemostatic components like dencichine while converting native saponins (e.g., ginsenoside Rg₁, Rb₁, Rd, Re, notoginsenoside R₁) into rare saponins (e.g., ginsenoside Rg₃, Rg₅, Rk₁, Rk₃, Rh₄). This compositional remodeling underpins the efficacy transition that raw PN excels in hemostasis and blood activation, whereas the processed form exhibits enhanced blood-nourishing, immunomodulatory, and anti-tumor activities. However, critical gaps persist, including the lack of dedicated quality standards for processed products, non-standardized processing protocols reliant on empirical judgment, and a fragmented understanding of the systemic mechanisms linking compositional changes to holistic efficacy.

This review summarizes critical advances in understanding the inherent chemical transformations and pharmacological shifts in PN driven by processing. To advance the field, future research must focus on processing standardization through objective chemical endpoints, establishing quality markers based on multiple rare saponins, investigating processing-chemistry-efficacy-mechanism relationships, and translating laboratory findings into clinical evidence. These further studies are essential for transforming traditional wisdom into precision science, ensuring clinical efficacy and facilitating the global recognition of PN.