The pharmacological activity and constituents of the sanchi ginseng Panax notoginseng have been reviewed. The bulk of pharmacological findings have been based on the saponins or steryl glycosides, although polysaccharides with immunopotentiating activity, proteins with antifungal, ribonuclease and xylanase activity, and a triacylglycerol (trilinolein) with antioxidant activity have been reported. Protective actions against cerebral ischaemia, beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, and haemostatic, antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective, renoprotective and estrogen-like activities have been described. Various methods for authentication of P. notoginseng are available.