About Sanqi　

Recognizing Sanqi(notoginseng)
  Thanks to Mr Zhang Zuming from Taiwan,China who provides us the following abundant and wonderful metarials about Sanqi(notoginseng).
  Long time ago, there were many wonderful herb medicines in the ancient and mysterious China. Like Ginseng, Sanqi ( Latin Name: Panax notoginseng),also named as Tanqi, is one of the most famous and valuable Chinese traditional herbs(46,47,48,49,50,51). It grows wildly in broadleaf forestry under partly shady and moist environment at the boundary between Yunnan and Guangxi Province. We use HPLC (High Performance Liquid chromatograph) to analysis Sanqi, and discover the best quality of Sanqi planted in Wenshan County in Yunnan Provice. The best harvest is between September and October in every autumn(10,49,52). However, there several fake Sanqi such as Loukui(Basella rubra), Ju Ye Sanqi(Gynura segetum (Lour.) Merr.),Jingtian Sanqi(Sedum aizoon L.), Lou Di Sheng Gen(Kalanchoe pinnat(Lan)),Ji Zhao Sanqi(Kalanchoe laciniata),and Zhu Jie Sanqi(Panax japonicum C. A. Mey.)(48,49). In China, it is an important Chinese herb medical theory for food and medicine from the same origin in Chinese meal culture. It has been recorded by Chinese references such as Pen Ts`ao Kang Mu, The Natural Resources Conservation of Dying Pharmaceutical Wild Animals and Plants in China in Ming Dynasty, for about 600 years ago. It is more tonic than Panax Ginseng. Reported in Pen Ts`ao Kang Mu, Tanqi tastes a little bitter but sweet; it is non-poison; it dissolves blood clots in blood vessels; it stops bleeding rapidly, etc.
  Recently, many research laboratories had a lot of reports for Tanqi(Panax Notoginseng)(51). Although they are the same species as Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng), P. quinquefolius (American ginseng) and P. notoginseng (Sanqi ginseng), Sanqi`s effective materials are some different from others` ones from Chinese medical and modern references proving(14, 29,32,34,38,41). Sanqi has a lot of different ginsenosides, notoginsenosides, panaxtriols, dencichines, quercetin and saponins, for example, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Re, Rg1, Rg2, Rh1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, O1, P2, Q3, S4, and T5 (2,7,9,11,12,16,19,20,31,37,46,47,50,54,57,58,60). It also includes Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Zn, Ni, V, Mo, and F (10,19,20,50).
  In the summary, many laboratories discover new evidences to prove Sanqi benefiting human. We supply for reference to you to read.
Sanqi¡¯s Functions
  Thanks to Mr Zhang Zuming from Taiwan,China who provides us the following abundant and wonderful metarials about Sanqi(notoginseng).
  Panax notoginseng(Sanqi) has many functions to improve our health, and then we describe its benefits later.
 I .Not only reinforces Sanqi our immune system to defeat cancer, but also affects tumor to postpone aggravating in cancer patients such as prostate cancer. For example, PC SPES(The initials PC stand for prostate cancer, and spes is Latin for hope.) is one of health foods in the US. It is composed of eight herbs(Dendranthema morifolium, Ganoderma lucidum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Isatis indigotica, Panax notoginseng, Rabdosia rubescens, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Srenoa repens). Seven combinations of herbal extracts were made, varying in the proportion of the most cytotoxic herbal extract, that of Panax notoginseng. The interactions of P. notoginseng with the other seven herbs were evaluated through the use of an isobologram. According to report, in all seven herbal combinations, P. notoginseng was found to be antagonistic with the other seven herbal components in the cytotoxicity assay(1).
 II .Sanqi can improve women¡¯s syndromes of menstrual cycle (MC) because women lose a lot of blood during this period. Besides of MC, when women are pregnant, bearing, and nursing, they also spend a lot of blood. At the same time, it is also a good cosmetic for women to enhance their skin better and better. It helps women get enough nutrients to support their blood recycle, so it is a good supplement for women(50,51). Ginsenosides Rg1 has estrogen-like activity and should be classified as a novel class of potent phytoestrogen(85).
 
 III .Sanqi can stops bleeding rapidly. It appears to reduce blood blocking and bleeding time. It is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promote health in Chinese medicine. Currently saponins of P. notoginseng (PNS) are especially given attentions for their hemorheological properties(12). Panax notoginseng and a saponin extract from Panax notoginseng provide hemostatic effects when applied externally(28).
 IV . Sanqi¡¯s extract can decrease cardiovascular risk in our life and expand blood streams. The myocardial protective effects of trilinolein, isolated from the Chinese herb Sanchi (Panax notoginseng), may be related to its antioxidant effects. trilinolein inhibits angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and beta-myosin heavy chain promoter activity via attenuation of reactive oxygen species generation(3). Trilinolein inhibits norepinephrine(NE)-induced protein synthesis via attenuation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation in cardiomyocytes(4,15). In addition to its direct relaxation of the smooth muscle cells at high concentrations, PNS, at 100 mg/L having little effect on smooth muscle, caused a marked inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation brought about by PNS. This inhibitory effect was due to its inhibition of elevation of cytosolic Ca2+, which is required for the activation of NO generation and release from the vascular endothelial cells(27). Notoginsenoside R1 (NG-R1) can increase the fibrinolytic potential in cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) in vitro by increasing the production of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plaminogen activator(u-PA). If operative in vivo this effect of NG-R1 on the fibrinolytic system of smooth muscle cells(SMCs) might also contribute to the effect of the Chinese herb drug Panax notoginseng in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases(36). Total ginseng saponins(TGS) from Panax notoginseng may be acting as a novel and selective Ca2+ antagonist that does not interact with the L-type Ca2+ channel (e.g. in KCl-induced contraction) but may interact with the putative receptor operated Ca2+ channel (e.g. in phenylephrine-induced contraction)(40). It is Effect of notoginsenoside R1 on the synthesis of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(42). Both Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Panax notoginseng(PNG )would be useful as antianginal agents since they dilate coronary vessels. Their use in hypertension is questionable since they induce both vasodilation and vasoconstriction depending on dose and target vessel(45).ginsenoside Rb1 can effectively block Hcy-induced dysfunction of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation as well as superoxide anion production and eNOS downregulation. Ginseng compounds may have potential clinical applications in controlling Hcy-associated vascular diseases and other vascular lesions(62). Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion could induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and ginsenoside Rb1 could significantly inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, indicating that ginsenoside Rb1 could inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion, thus alleviating ischemia-reperfusion injury(69).Rg1-accelerated synaptic transmission and nitric oxide produced by nNOS played a role in the induction of PP-DG LTP in anesthetized rats(87).Ginsenoside Rg2 has inhibitory function on myocardialischemia(91).NO production increased via ginsenoside Rg1 played an important role in the protective effect on TNF-alpha stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and was helpful to deeply understand the active mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 to HUVECs at the molecular level(101).
 V . Sanqi can act nerve system of brain and body, so it can enhance memory and activity up for human. It also protects neuron injured from free radical or ischemic and reperfusion. It is Axonal and dendritic extension by protopanaxadiol-type saponins from ginseng drugs in SK-N-SH cells(16). Panax ginseng (PG), Panax notoginseng PNG , Gastrodia elata (GE) and Coptis chinensis (CC) administered orally for 1 week improved the scopolamine£¨SCOP£©-induced learning and memory deficit in rats(30).ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 have a partial neurotrophic and neuroprotective role in dopaminergic cell culture(63). Rb1 can improve memory for a visual discrimination task and that the nootropic effect may be related to changes in anxiety(67). Rb1 and Rg1 enhance spatial learning ability by increasing hippocampal synaptic density without changing plasticity of individual synapses(70).the central infusion of ginsenoside Rb1 after forebrain ischemia protects hippocampal CA1 neurons against lethal ischemic damage possibly by scavenging free radicals which are overproduced in situ after brain ischemia and reperfusion. The present study may validate the empirical usage of ginseng root over thousands of years for the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases(72).Rb1 protected brain from ischemic and reperfusion injuries(73).Ginsenoside Re showed protection from MPTP-induced apoptosis in the PD model mouse nigral neurons and this effect may be attributable to upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein, downregulating the expression of Bax, and iNOS protein, and inhibiting the activation of caspase-3(76).Ginsenoside Rg1 may take effect through its anti-apoptotic activity in neurodegenerative diseases(84).Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 represent potentially effective therapeutic agents for spinal cord injuries(86).Rg1 and Rb1 have neurotrophic and selective neuroprotective actions that may contribute to the purported enhancement of cognitive function(88).
 VI . It is effects of Ginsenoside Rb2 and Rc on inferior human sperm motility in vitro for Sanqi(26).
 VII .Sanqi can regulate immune system. PNS possesses immunologic adjuvant activities and low-haemolytic effect(5). The Sandi¡¯s protein inhibited mycelial growth in Coprinus comatus, Physalospora piricola, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium oxysporum. Immunological adjuvant activities of the principal notoginsenosides and related dammarane-type triterpene saponins were examined and notoginsenosides-D, -G, -H, and -K were found to increase the serum IgG level in mice sensitized with ovalbumin£¨21£©. The Sanqi RNase demonstrates potent RNase and translation-inhibitory activities. In addition, it exhibits antiproliferative activity toward leukemia L1210 cells and antifungal activity against Physalospora piricola and Coprinus comatus. Its RNase activity is not heat-resistant, unlike most RNases which are thermostable£¨22£©. It is Sensitization of a tumor, but not normal tissue, to the cytotoxic effect of ionizing radiation using Panax notoginseng extract£¨25£©. It is activity of Extracellular Ca2+ regulates the respiratory burst of human neutrophils for Panax notoginseng saponins (PNGS) (35). Four polysaccharides, homogeneous in gel-filtration chromatography, were prepared and designated PF3111, PF3112, PBGA11, and PBGA12. Component sugar analysis revealed that they are heteroglycans with MWs ranging from 37 kD to 760 kD, composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose, and xylose in different molar ratios. Fraction PBGA12 has the most anticomplementary activity which is mediated through both alternative and classical pathways. All the polysaccharides except PBGA11 induced the production of interferon-gamma in the presence of concanavalin A. They induced the production of significant amount of TNF-alpha in cell cultures. In conclusion, the polysaccharides from P.notoginseng have immunostimulating activities in vitro(39).However, it is unavailuable to inhibit HIV(18).Ginsenoside-Rb2 might inhibit invasiveness to the basement membrane via MMP-2 suppression in some endometrial cancers, and can be used as a medicine for inhibition of secondary spreading of uterine endometrial cancers(75).Ginsenoside Rg1 is a desirable agent for enhancing CD4(+) T-cell activity, as well as the correction of Th1-dominant pathological disorders(83).The antiallergic action of Rh1 may originate from its cell membrane-stabilizing and anti-inflammatory activities, and can improve the inflammation caused by allergies(92).Notoginseng inhibits LPS-induced activation of RAW264.7 macrophages and demonstrates that notoginseng possesses anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties in vitro(98). The Rb1 adjuvanted vaccines stimulated similar titres of antigen specific IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b. Thus,the cytokine and the serological data indicated that the Rb1 fraction of ginseng elicits a balanced Th1 and Th2 immune response(109).
VIII .According recently researching, Sanqi can regulate triglyceride between normal ranges of concentration in blood plasma due to Sanqinosides, especially triglyceride appearing to plummet. The most evident effect of P. notoginseng was the reduction of fibrinogenaemia in treated rats compared with the control values, no dose-relationship being shown in this effect. Moreover, no significant variation in HDL cholesterol and glucose levels was observed nor did relevant behavioural changes occur in association with the root intake. Besides a moderate, non dose-related decrease in the plasma lipid levels, P. notoginseng appeared to induce a significant reduction in the rat fibrinogenaemia(13). Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) might lower TG levels via cAMP-production in the liver, and GRb1 might be an interesting candidate to for a modulator of cAMP-mediated effects, especially within the liver steatosis system(68).
 
IX.Sanqi is a good antioxidant to defend free radical attacking and protect our regular cells. It also extend our cells¡¯ life cycle. It may improve gastric secretion, and that increase of gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) and antagonism against the lesion of oxygen free radicals are possibly one of its mechanisms ( 8 ) . It is protection by hot water extract of Panax notoginseng on chronic ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity (6). Trilinolein has been reported to be an antioxidant, which can counteract free radical damage associated with atherogenesis, and myocardial damage seen with ischaemia and reperfusion (15) . the free radical reaction is involved in tissue damage, particularly in the pathological neurocyte injury of cerebral ischemia. The results show that in this model of incomplete cerebral ischemia, the degree of lipid peroxidation can be lowered by the pretreatment with Chinese herbs containing ginsengosides or with nifedipine (44,47). Ginsenoside Re inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting expression of pro-apoptotic Bax gene and raising the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax(78).The antioxidant property of Rg1 along with the blocking of JNK signaling cascade might contribute to the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridineI(MPTP)(81).Rg1 can inhibit apoptosis of cultured cortical neurons induced by serum withdrawal. This action of Rg1 is concentration-dependent. The finding may give a clue to elucidate the antiaging activity of Rg1(89).Rb1 could antagonize lipid peroxidation and scavenge oxygen free radicals as well as increase catalase and GSH-PX activities(90).Trilinolein, isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Sanchi (Panax notoginseng), has been shown to have myocardial protective effects via its antioxidant ability. Trilinolein inhibits ET-1-induced ERK phosphorylation, JNK phosphorylation, and c-fos gene expression via attenuating superoxide production in cardiomyocytes(96).Hcy significantly inhibits endothelial proliferation with increased production of superoxide anion, which is effectively blocked by ginsenoside Rb1. This study provides some new aspects of Hcy-induced endothelial dysfunction, and suggests a potential role of Rb1 to block Hcy action, which may have clinical applications(99).Ginsenoside Re functions as an antioxidant, protecting cardiomyocytes from oxidant injury induced by both exogenous and endogenous oxidants, and that its protective effects may be mostly attributed to scavenging H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals(102).Notoginsenoside R1 inhibits TNF-alpha-induced ERK activation and subsequent fibronectin overexpression and migration in human arterial smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) by suppressing NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS generation and directly scavenging ROS(105).
 
X.Food and medicine are from the same origin in the traditional Chinese food culture. For example, we can cook Sanqi-chicken soup in our meals. We prepare for a healthy chicken about 500 g ( 1 lb . 2 oz . ) with Sanqi¡¯s powder about between 5 and 10 g (1/5 and 1/ 3 oz .), and steam it about 2 hours. The soup can improve your blood cycle and make your hands and feet more power than before(49).
XI.It is robust for you to therapy acutely bleeding. Panax notoginseng is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promote health in Chinese medicine. Currently saponins of P. notoginseng (PNS) are especially given attentions for their hemorheological properties  (12) . The alcohol extract of notoginseng results in the shortest bleeding time and provides better hemostatic effects than no treatment, placebo treatment, and treatment with lipophilic extract £¨ 23,50 £© .
XII.Sanqi can protect liver damaged from chemistry. The saponin fraction from the flower buds of Panax notoginseng exhibited protective effect on liver injury induced by d-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide £¨ 11,24 £© .Sandi has fulvotomentoside and oleanolic acid, and fulvotomentoside and oleanolic acid appear to be the most effective in protecting against chemical-induced liver injury £¨ 43 £© . PNS attenuates the gut I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction and inflammatory responses such as TNF-alpha production in the early phase via enhancement of NO production, and sequential hepatocellular damage via its anti-inflammatory effect (56). PNS preconditioning protects liver grafts from I/R injury effectively in rat orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) via an antiapoptotic pathway. The antiapoptotic mechanisms of PNS may include inhibiting the expression of TNF-alpha and Caspase-3 and enhancing the expression of Bcl-2. (59).
XIII.Ginsenoside-RD from Panax notoginseng can delay Alzheimer¡¯s disease happening in age, enhance neural stem cell to prolife, and protect neuron. The crude saponins (PNS) and ginsenoside-Rd promote the differentiation of neurospheres into astrocytes. Ginsenoside-Rd increases the production of astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, both PNS and ginsenoside-Rd induce a weak but significant effect by decreasing the number of neurons. The other ginsenosides do not induce any differentiation on both neurons and astrocytes(53)Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 exerted significant neuroprotective effects on cultured cortical cells. Therefore, these compounds may be efficacious in protecting neurons from oxidative damage that is produced by exposure to excess glutamate(71).In the present paper, we overview the discovery of new biological activities induced by ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 and discuss possible mechanisms of action. Both compounds could increase neural plasticity in efficacy and structure; especially Rg1, as one small molecular drug, can increase proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells in dentate gyrus of hippocampus of normal adult mice and global ischemia model in gerbils. This finding has great value for treatment of Alzheimer¡¯s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders which is characterized by neurons loss. Increase of expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor, Bcl-2 and antioxidant enzyme, enhanced new synapse formation, inhibition of apoptosis and calcium overload are also important neuron protective factors. Rg1 and Rb1 have common effects, but there are some differences in pharmacology and mechanism. These differences may attribute to their different chemical structure. Rg1 is panaxtriol with two sugars, while Rb1 is panaxtriol with four sugars(80).Ginsenoside Rg1 is involved in the regulation of proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells and this effect may serve as one of the elementary mechanisms underlying its nootropic and anti-aging actions(82).panaxynol could induce the differentiation of PC12D cells in a process similar to but distinct from that of NGF and the panaxynol¡¯s effects were via cAMP- and MAP kinase-dependent mechanisms(97).Panaxydol(PND) and panaxynol(PNN) reduce neurodegeneration in the Alzheimer¡¯s brain(104).Three of these isolated components, ginsenoside Rg1, Rg3, and RE, resulted in significant reductions in the amount of Abeta detected in the brains of animals after single oral doses of these agents. The results indicate that ginseng itself, or purified ginsenosides, may have similarly useful effects in human disease(106).
IVX. Supplementation enhances physical performance during endurance exercise. 1,350 mg per day Panax notoginseng(PNG) supplement for 30 days improved endurance time to exhaustion, and lowered mean blood pressure (MAP) and Vo2 during endurance exercise(55).
XV.It can protects liver such as O1, P2, Q3, S4, and T5. PNS attenuates the gut ischemia and reperfusion (I/R)-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction and inflammatory responses such as TNF-alpha production in the early phase via enhancement of NO production, and sequential hepatocellular damage via its anti-inflammatory effect(56). fulvotomentoside and oleanolic acid appear to be the most effective in protecting against chemical-induced liver injury(43). The principal dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the roots and flower buds of Panax notoginseng were found to show potent hepatoprotective effects(11,24). The aforementioned results indicated that like Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), ginsenoside Re-associated induction of angiogenesis enhanced tissue regeneration, supporting the concept of therapeutic angiogenesis in tissue-engineering strategies(77).Rg1 may be a new class of angiogenic agent and may be loaded in extracellular matrix(ECMs) to accelerate tissue regeneration(79).
 
XVI .It can avoid stomach to secret too much acidity. The major active constituent in the head of Panax ginseng is GRb1, and that anti-ulcer effect is produced through an increase in mucus secretion(64).
XVII.It promotes epidermal cell growing. Ginsenoside Rb2 enhances epidermal cell proliferation by upregulating the expressions of these proliferation-related factors(74).
XVIII. Re may be useful in improving glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Re administration in ob/ob mice significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance and systemic insulin sensitivity without affecting body weight. These events are mediated, at least in part, by the changes in skeletal muscle gene expression. The mechanism by which Re affects gene expression remains to be determined(110).
IXX .Panax notoginseng is not to be used during pregnancy. Before more data in humans is available, ginseng should be used with caution by pregnant women in the first trimester (65). The study has demonstrated that ginsenoside exerts direct teratogenic effects on rat embryos. Until more is known about the effects of ginsenoside in women of reproductive age, we suggest its use should be treated with caution (66).