Abstract: To assess the advantages and disadvantages of Panax notoginseng Saponins original powder and submicron powder, and provide basis for the marketing of P.notoginseng saponins submicron powder, the physicochemical properties of two powders including particle size, electric potential, microscopic structure, infrared spectrum and dissolution velocity were studied The experimental results indicated that P.notoginseng saponins original powder turned into submicron powder after nanocrystallization without chemical structure change. Its microscopic structure was changed from banded crystal to irregularly shaped nanospheres arranged closely, its powder average particle size was shrinked from 1 122.4 nm to 153.4 nm, finishing the shift from micron to nanometer, its water solution was changed from true solution to stable colloidal solution. Using HPLC, under the condition of simulated human environment, it was found that P.notoginseng saponins submicron powder dissolved completely 1 min earlier than original powder. The experiment results showed that P.notoginseng saponins submicron powder is smaller than original powder in particle size, more soluble in water and more usable for human body.

Key words: submicron powder, Panax notoginseng saponins, physicochemical property, HPLC