The effect of saponin fractions of Panax ginseng root on the interactions of human plasma lipoproteins and lecithin dispersions with dextran sulfate were studied in order to examine the effect of Panax ginseng on the lipid accumulation in the aorta. The total saponin fraction and protopanaxadiol glycosides of Panax ginseng root seemed to slightly enhance the interaction of low density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate in the absence of divalent metal ions. Protopanaxatriol glycosides remarkably inhibited the interaction of low density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate. However, all of these three saponin fractions of Panax ginseng root showed the tendency of inhibition to the interaction of high density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate in the presence of divalent metal ions by the order of protopanxatriol glycosides, protopanaxadiol glycosides and total saponin. Three saponin fractions of Panax ginseng exerted almost same tendency to the interaction of lecithin dispersions with dextran sulfate in the presence of divalent metal ions as the interaction of low density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate absence of divalent metal ions.