The aim of present study is to observe the effect of ginsenoside Rgls metabolites (primary metabolit ginsenoside Rhl and end metabolite protopanaxatriol) on learning and mem ory function.we employed the step through test and electrophysi ological study to investigate the effects of Rhl and Ppt on learn ing and memory as well as hippocampal excitability.The behav ioral study showed that both ginsenoside Rhl and Ppt significant ly ameliorated memory-impaired model induced by scopolamine in mice.Consistently, electrophysiological work revealed that Rhl and Ppt as well as their precursor Rgl all increased hipp ocampal excitability in the dentate gyrus of anesthetized rats.The metabolism of Rgl in cerebrospinal fluid was detected by HPLC MS, indicating that Rgl could not convert into Rhl or Ppt.These results demonstrated that both Rhl and Ppt have similar effect on improving memory and hippocampal excitability, sug gesting that the role of ginsenosides sugar moeties in biological activities is not as necessary as traditionally considered.