The aims of this study were to optimize the extraction process of the Aralia elata saponin and to evaluate its antioxidant capacity. A salting-out assisted enzymatically hydrolysis process was used to extract the saponin and optimized by response surface method. The product of solvent extraction was selected as control and the effects of this process on the antioxidant activities of the extract were investgated. The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows: pH 5.405, temperature 61.3 ℃, disodium phosphate concentration 7.74%, cellulase concentration 1.5% and duration 90 min. The productivity of Aralia elata saponin was 3.97% under these conditions. The productivity of this process significantly increased comparing with solvent extraction. Results from the antioxidant test showed that the IC50 values of products extracted by the optimized process and the solvent extraction process toward DPPH radicals were 0.342 mg/mL, 0.365 mg/mL, those toward superoxide radicals were 1.220 mg/mL, 1.432 mg/mL, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity superiority sequence was as follows: Vc > optimized process extracted product > solvent extracted product. This study provides scientific data for the efficient extraction and preliminary antioxidant function clarification of Aralia elata saponin.