Research progress on the mechanism of panax notoginseng saponin in the treatment of atherosclerosis

With the increasing incidence and prevalence of atherosclerosis (AS), it has become a major global public health concern. While interventional surgery and Western medicines are effective in treating AS, their adverse effects are noteworthy. Traditional Chinese medicine offers the advantage of low side effects and significant therapeutic effects, making its active ingredients potential candidates for new medicine development. Panax notoginseng saponin (PNS), a compound derived from the natural drug panax notoginseng, has shown significant efficacy in AS treatment by targeting six main aspects: anti-inflammation, regulation of lipid metabolism, anti-oxidative stress, inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, inhibition of angiogenesis, and regulation of autophagy. This study reviews the pharmacological mechanisms of PNS in AS treatment, as well as its biological properties, <i>in vivo</i> metabolism, synthesis, and regulation, providing insights for future research.