Ginseng has been widely used for the management of anxiety and emotional instability, but there is little experimental evidence supporting these clinical applications. The anxiolytic-like effect of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide fractions of white (WG) and red ginsengs (RG) was investigated using the elevated plus-maze test. The saponin (SF) and polysaccharide (PF) fractions were orally administered to male ICR mice for 3 days and behavioral test for the anxiolytic activity were performed. SF significantly increased the time-spent open arms and number into the in the open arm entries. However, PF weakly increased the time-spent in the open arms, but did not increase number into the open ann entries. The WG showed more potent anxiolytic-like effect than that of RG. The anxiolytic-like activities were antagonized by flumazenil, but not by esmolol. These findings suggest the saponin fractions of WG and RG promote the anxiolytic-like activity by antagonizing GABN/benzodiazepine receptors in mice.