Ginsenoside‑Rg1, the main active component of Panax notoginseng, exhibits a number of pharmacological functions, including promoting protein synthesis in the brain, increasing the number of synapses, improving memory and promoting recovery of brain function following injury. The effect of ginsenoside‑Rg1 on proliferation and glial‑like‑directed differentiation in the cortical neural stem cells (NSCs) of embryonic rat brain was investigated. The present study used MTS assays to identify the optimum dose and window time of ginsenoside‑Rg1 administration to stimulate the proliferation of cortical NSCs in the rat embryonic tissue. The oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) set‑up was used as a cell injury model. Immunofluorescent staining was used for identification of NSCs and subsequent observation of their proliferation and glial‑like directed differentiation. Nestin expression was the marker for the presence of NSCs among the cortical cells of embryonic rat brain. The optimum dose of ginsenoside‑Rg1 for proliferation of NSCs was 0.32 µg/ml. The optimum window time of 0.32 µg/ml ginsenoside‑Rg1 administration on proliferation of NSCs was 6 h. Ginsenoside‑Rg1 at 0.32 µg/ml concentration promoted incorporation of bromo‑2‑deoxyuridine, and expression of nestin and vimentin in primary and passaged NSCs, and NSCs following OGD. Ginsenoside‑Rg1 had a role in promoting proliferation and glial‑like‑directed differentiation of cortical NSCs. The plausible explanation for these responses is that ginsenoside‑Rg1 acts similarly to the growth factors to promote the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs.