Thioredoxin-1 has various biologic activities, including the control of redox balance and the inhibition of apoptosis. It has been reported that thioredoxin-1 and its inducers are beneficial for neuroprotection against oxidative stress-associated neural diseases. In this study, we found panaxatriol saponins (PTS) extracted from Panax notoginseng as a new inducer of thioredoxin-1. PTS attenuated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced cell death of PC12 cells. These results indicate PTS has a possible potential as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease.