Objective:　To　investigate　the　effects　of　the　total　saponin　of　Dipsacus　asperoides　(tSDA)　and　ginsenoside　Rb1　(GRb1)　on　the　apoptosis　of　primary　cultured　hippocampal　neurons　induced　by　β-amyloid　protein　(Aβ).　Methods:　Primary　cultured　hippocampal　neurons,　the　cultures　were　pretreated　with　tSDA　and　GRb1　on　10d　for　24　hours　respectively.　Then　the　cultures　were　treated　with　35　μmol　·　L　-1　Aβ　25-35　for　24　hours,　observed　the　changing　of　survival　rate　of　neurons　and　the　apoptosis　of　neurons　with　biochemical　analysis　combining　immunofluorescent　cytochemical　double-staining　technique.　Results:　Hippocampal　neurons　were　treated　with　35　μmol　·　L　-1　Aβ　for　24　hours,　and　survival　rate　of　neurons　downed　to　52.6%.　When　neurons　were　pretreated　by　tSDA　and　GRb1,　survival　rate　of　neurons　increased　11%　to　15%.　The　findings　of　immunofluorescent　cytochemical　double-staining,　indicated　that　apoptotic　neurons　were　obviously　more　than　that　of　the　blank　group,　reaching　43.9%.　When　neurons　were　pretreated　by　tSDA　and　GRb1,　apoptotic　neurons　were　downed　to　16.6%,　10.8%　respectively.　Conclusion:　tSDA　had　the　same　effects　as　GRb1,　protecting　the　neurons,　antagonizing　neurotoxicity　of　Aβ,　increasing　survival　rate　of　neurons,　and　reducing　apoptotic　neurons　induced　by　Aβ.