Objective To study the effects of panaxydol(PND) upon neurotrophic factors (NTFs) expression in Schwann cell, and to further reveal the mechanisms that underlie these effects. Methods Schwann cells were treated with PND of different concentrations in the culture medium. NTFs expression was examined through immunoiistochemistry assay. The intracellular cAMP level was assessed by radioimmunologic assay. Results There was an increase in NGF expression after PND treatment within the range of 2.5-200μmol/L (P<0.05) and an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) expression after PND treatment within the range of 5.0-20.0μmol/L (P<0.05). Both NGF and BDNF expressions peaked in 10μmol/L PND group with P<0.01, which was considered to be statistically significant; Intracellular cAMP increased as well after PND treatment within the range of 2.5-20.0μmol/L (P<0.05) and the intracellular cAMP level also peaked in the 10μmol/L PND group (P<0.01). Conclusion PND treatment of Schwann cell enhances NGF and BDNF expressions in vitro. In addition, an increase in the intracellular cAMP level was observed after PND treatment and that correlates with NGF and BDNF expression