About
Panax notoginseng root extract is a botanical ingredient derived from the roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, a plant with a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. It is primarily used as a functional food ingredient and dietary supplement ingredient valued for its adaptogenic, antioxidant, and ergogenic properties, with bioactive compounds dominated by dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins (ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1, Rd, Re, and notoginsenoside R1).
Safety summary
The extract is generally considered safe for healthy adults at regulated doses; EFSA concluded safety at 0.5 mg/kg body weight per day (up to 35 mg/day) for a combined P. notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceus extract in food supplements. High-dose ginseng use has been associated with a 'ginseng abuse syndrome' involving CNS hyperactivity, skin eruptions, and diarrhea, and it can interact with anticoagulants such as warfarin. Standalone long-term toxicological data for isolated P. notoginseng extract remain limited, and standalone sub-chronic or chronic human safety studies are lacking.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Authorized as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2020/1821 (implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2283) specifically as a combined extract with Astragalus membranaceus (AstraGin™/InnoSlim® type blend). Authorized for use in food supplements for the general adult population only; use by pregnant women is explicitly excluded. Safe intake set at 0.5 mg/kg bw/day, corresponding to a maximum of 35 mg/day.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Panax pseudoginseng var. notoginseng (Tienchi ginseng) is recognized by the FDA as a dietary supplement ingredient under 21 CFR 101.4(h) within the Panax genus. Ginseng ingredients from the Panax genus are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by FDA for use as dietary supplements. No specific standalone GRAS notice for isolated P. notoginseng root extract was confirmed in the GRAS inventory; permissible under DSHEA as a botanical dietary supplement ingredient.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. Panax notoginseng: Pharmacological Aspects and Toxicological Issues, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2EFSA. Safety of a botanical extract derived from Panax notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceus (AstraGin™) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2020. efsa.europa.eu
- 3PubMed. Toxicological Evaluation of a Mixture of Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng Root Extracts (InnoSlim®), 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. Ginseng (Lactation and Drugs), 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. A novel strategy with standardized reference extract qualification and single compound quantitative evaluation for quality control of Panax notoginseng used as a functional food, 2013. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
