This study was perfonned to investigate the anxiolytic etl'ects of total sponin fraction from Ginseng Radix Rubra (KRG) in mice using the elevated plus-maze model. The water extract of KRG and ginseng total saponins (GTS) purified from the water extract of KRG were administered orally to mice. One hour atier administration of KRG water extract and GTS, mice were tested on the elevated plus-maze. The water extract of KRG 100 mglkg. and GTS 25 and 50 mglkg did not increase open ann entries and time spent on open arms. However. GTS 100 mg/kg increased the number of open arm entries and time spent on open arms. On the other hand. as the plus-maze test was affected by changes in locomotor activity. an additional test was can'ied out with the specific aim of monitoring locomotor activity. The water extract of KRG 100 mg/kg, and GTS 25 and 50 mglkg did not affect the locomotor activity. However. GTS 100 mglkg significantly decreased locomotor activity. From this study. we suggest that GTS may play an impoitant role on the anx-iolytic effects in the plus-maze model.