The content and composition of saponin compounds of Panax species were analyzed according to their species, region and processing type of red and white ginseng. The species employed were Korean-, Chinese-, Japanese red ginsengs, and Korean white ginseng of Panax ginseng, American- and Canadian ginsengs of Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoinseng. Twelve main saponin components in the ginseng were identified and quantified using TLC and HPLC. All three species had remarkably different content and composition. However, within each species they were similar. Twelve major ginsenosides were determined in P. ginseng, eight in p. quinquefolium, and six in P. notoginseng. Of the components of P ginseng Rf, $Rh_1$, $Rh_2$ and Ra were not detected in P quinquefolium, and $Rb_2$, Rc, Rf, $Rh_2$, Ra and Ro not detected in P. notoinseam. Crude saponin content and protopanaxadiol/protopanaxatriol saponin ratio were compared. They were 4.81~5.24% and 1.27~ 1.45 in p. ginsengs, 7.01~7.25% and 2.12~ 2.15 in p. quinquefolium, 9.80% and 0.99 in P. notoineng. The prosapogenin and sapogenin content were different among the Panax species.