Objective:To investigate in vitro permeability of Panax notoginseng total saponins gel ointments

and optimize permeation medium and permeation enhancer. Method: With the total content of notoginsenoside R1

ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb1 as index

in vitro permeation of total saponins from P. notoginseng was detected by transdermal diffusion instrument

permeation amount of total saponins from P. notoginseng was determined by HPLC. Result: Penetration effect was the best with nitrocellulose membrane as permeation medium and azone as permeation enhancer;Accumulative permeation amount of P. notoginseng total saponins gel ointments in 24 h was 683.97 μg·cm-2

in vitro permeation could be described by model of Higuchi equation

and permeation rate was 17.80 μg·cm-2·min-1. Conclusion: P. notoginseng total saponins gel ointments had good permeability

it was suitable as a novel transdermal drug delivery formulation of total saponins from P. notoginseng.