Objective To observe the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human retinal capillary endothelial cell (HRCEC) cultured in normal and hypoxia condition. Methods HRCEC was cultured in normal condition and treated with 0.0 mmol/L (group A), 0.1 mmol/L (group B) and 0.5 mmol/L (group C) ginsenoside Rg3. HRCEC was also cultured in hypoxia condition and treated with 0.0 mmol/L (group D), 0.1 mmol/L (group E) and 0.5 mmol/L (group F) ginsenoside Rg3. The effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on HRCEC proliferation were measured by methylthiazoletrazolium assay in 24, 48 and 72 hours after culture. In 24 hours after culture, the effect of cell migration was evaluated by transwell chamber; the effect of tube formation was evaluated by Matrigel; the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein and mRNA were detected by Western blot and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Ginsenoside Rg3 could inhibit proliferation of HRCEC, depending on the concentration (F=30.331 and 33.402 in normal and hypoxia condition, respectively; P＜0.05) and time (F=85.462 and 136.045 in normal and hypoxia condition, respectively; P＜0.05). The number of cell migration was 103.33plusmn;3.54, 92..25plusmn;3.68, 78.64plusmn;4.66 in group A, B and C, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=28.801, P＜0.05). The number of cell migration was 125.76plusmn;3.11, 90.27plusmn;3.55, 77.81plusmn;5.01 in group D, E and F, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=117.594, P＜0.05). The number of tube formed in Matrigel was 24.3plusmn;2.2, 15.7plusmn;1.7, 10.1plusmn;2.3 in group A, B and C, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=35.364, P＜0.05). The number of tube formed in Matrigel was 26.2plusmn;1.9, 15.1plusmn;2.6, 8.6plusmn;1.9 in group D, E and F, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=50.989, P＜0.05). The expression of VEGF mRNA was 1.00plusmn;0.06, 0.79plusmn;0.06, 0.68plusmn;0.02 in group A, B and C, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=31.303, P＜0.05). The expression of VEGF mRNA was 3.88plusmn;0.12, 2.83plusmn;0.09, 1.15plusmn;0.05 in group D, E and F, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=682.668, P＜0.05). The expression of VEGF protein was 0.62plusmn;0.03, 0.41plusmn;0.02, 0.32plusmn;0.02 in group A, B and C, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=125.471, P＜0.05). The expression of VEGF protein was 0.91plusmn;0.03, 0.82plusmn;0.03, 0.71plusmn;0.02 in group D, E and F, the difference among three groups was statistically significant (F=41.045, P＜0.05). Conclusion Ginsenoside Rg3 can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HRCEC through the inhibition of VEGF expression.