Abstract: Three total saponins were isolated from the root, leaf and flower of Panax notoginseng (SAN CHI). Sanchinoside C₁ (i e ginsenoside Rg₁, protopanaxatriol as. sapogenin) and sanchinoside E₁ (i e ginsenoside Rb₁, protopanaxadiol as sapogenin) were the principal constituents, respectively, in the root and the aboveground parts.In 26 open-chest anesthetized dogs, the hemodynamic parameters of the root-, leaf-or flower-saponins 20 mg/kg/min iv for 5 rain, and sanchinoside C₁ or E₁ 10 mg/kg/min i. v. for 5 min, were examined. The root-saponins were shown to increase cardiac output (CO) 29±7%, and reduce mean arterial pressure (mAP) 34±2%, total peripheral resistance (TPR) 48±4%, left ventricular maximum dp/dt (LV dp/dt) 23±6%, heart rate (HR) 12±4%, and tension time index per minute- (TTI/min) 31±5%. Sanchinoside C₁ reduced mAP 15±3% and TPR 35±3%, and increased LV dp/dt 30±5% and CO 31±3%. The hemodynamic parameters were not influenced by the leaf-saponins and sanchinoside E₁. The flower-saponins showed some mild transient cardiovascular effects.The root-saponins and sanchinoside C₁ Were shown to be weakly toxic in mice. The order of toxicity was: flower-saponins>leaf-saponins and E₁>root-saponins and C₁. In addition, the 0.18%. leaf-saponin solution caused hemolysis, but the others did not even at 0.3%. These results suggest that the saponins from SAN CHI root are the active principle on cardiovascular system, and the saponins from SAN CHI above-ground parts are inactive.