Background: Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) have the potency to proliferate and differentiate into odontoblasts and play an important role in dentine formation and reparation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on the proliferation and differentiation of hDPCs. Methods: hDPCs were incubated with different concentrations of ginsenoside Rg1 (0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 lmol ⁄ L). The effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on the proliferative ability of hDPCs were evaluated by a fibroblast colony forming test, MTT assay and flow cytometry for cell cycle. The control group, osteogenic induction group, ginsenoside Rg1 (5 lmol ⁄ L) group and combination group were designed, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and FQ-PCR for gene expressions of dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentine matrix protein 1 (DMP1) were performed to evaluate the differentiation of hDPCs. Results: The proliferative ability of hDPCs in ginsenoside Rg1 was significantly enhanced (p < 0.05), especially in the ginsenoside Rg1 (5 lmol ⁄ L) group. ALP activity and gene expressions of DSPP and DMP1 were increased in the induction group, ginsenoside Rg1 group, and their combination group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions:The results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of hDPCs.