In this study, the activities of four ginsenosides Rc, Re, Rd, and Rf on splenic lymphocytes growth were studied by microcalorimetry. Some qualitative and quantitative information, such as the metabolic power–time curves, growth rate constant k, maximum heat-output power of the exponential phase P max and the corresponding appearance peak time t max, total heat output Q t, and promotion rate R p of splenic lymphocytes growth affected by the four ginsenosides were calculated. In accordance with thermo-kinetic model, the corresponding quantitative relationships of k, P max, t max, Q t, R p, and c were established, . Also, the median effective concentration (EC50) was obtained by quantitative analysis. Based on both the quantitative quantity–activity relationships (QQAR) and EC50, the sequence of promotion activity was Rc > Re > Rd > Rf. The analysis of structure–activity relationships showed that the number, type, and position of sugar moieties on the gonane steroid nucleus had important influences on the promotion activity of Rc, Re, Rd, and Rf on splenic lymphocytes growth. Microcalorimetry can be used as a useful tool for determining the activity and studying the quantity–activity relationship of drugs on cell.