The pharmacological mechaisms of Panax notoginseng saponins on nervous system diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischermic cerebral apoplexy and depressive disorder) , including panax notoginseng saponins, protoparaxotriol saponins, panasadiol saponins, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Re and notoginsenoside R1 were summarized to analyze the study hotspots and potential advantages (such as estrogen-like effect) of notoginsenoside's pharmacological actions, provide reference for further pharmacological studies and new ideas for clinical treatment of nervous system diseases and drug studies and development.