Objective: To investigate the protective effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative damage in PC12 cell. Method: MTT method was employed to determine the viability in PNS (0.01-100 mg·L-1) treated PC12 cell and PNS (0.1-10 mg·L-1) plus H2O2 treated PC12 cell. Thereafter

intracellular reactive oxygen species amounts

activity of SOD

GSH-Px

as well as MDA concentration were determined at optimal dosage of PNS selected based on MTT experiment. Result: PC12 cell viability was increased by PNS at 0.1-10 mg·L-1

and the viability of H2O2 treated PC12 cell was increased by PNS at 0.1-10 mg·L-1. Furthermore

PNS at 0.1-1.0 mg·L-1 significantly decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels

as well as enhanced SOD activity (P<0.001) and GSH-Px activity (P<0.001). But MDA concentration was decreased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion: PNS can protect PC12 cell against H2O2 induced damage via enhancement of intracellular antioxidant enzyme activity.