Both ginsenoside Rg1 and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) has been reported to exert neurotropic and neuroprotective effects on the nervous system.The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Rg1, IGF-Ⅰ or Rg1 combined with IGF-Ⅰ on 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in SKN-SH cells.Pretreatment with Rg1 or IGF-Ⅰ significantly increased the cell viability against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity.Ginsenoside Rg1 or IGF-Ⅰ could attenuate 6-OHDA-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential.6-OHDA-induced up-regulation of Bax protein expression could be restored by Rg1 or IGF-Ⅰ treatment.Cotreatment with Rg1 and IGF-Ⅰ resulted in an enhancement of cell survival.These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and IGF-Ⅰ have neuroprotective effects against 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis in SK-N-SH cells.Cotreatment with Rg1 and IGF-Ⅰ have synergistic effect on cell survival in SK-N-SH cells.