The prevalence of individuals who are
overweight or obese is rising rapidly globally. Currently, majority of drugs used to treat
obesity are ineffective or are accompanied by obvious side effects; hence, the options are very limited. Therefore, it is necessary to find more effective and safer
anti-obesity drugs. It has been proven in vivo and in vitro that the active ingredient notoginsenosides isolated from
traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen exhibits anti-
obesity effects. Notoginsenosides can treat
obesity by reducing
lipid synthesis, inhibiting adipogenesis, promoting white adipose tissue browning, increasing energy consumption, and improving
insulin sensitivity. Although notoginsenosides are potential drugs for the treatment of
obesity, their effects and mechanisms have not been analyzed in depth. In this review, the anti-
obesity potential and mechanism of action of notoginsenosides were analyzed; thus laying emphasis on the timely prevention and treatment of
obesity.