Nonlinear optical properties of tetraphenylporphyrin(H;TPP) and protonated tetraphenylporphyrin(H;TPP;) in toluene were investigated by Z-scan technique using a nanosecond laser with 5 ns pulse at 532 nm.Results show that H;TPP;exhibits weaker nonlinear refraction but enhanced reverse saturable absorption(RSA) and optical limiting performance in comparison with pristine H;TPP.Since no nonlinear scattering is observed in H;TPP;under low input fluence, and H;TPP;exhibits weaker nonlinear scattering signals than H;TPP under high input fluence, the enhancement of RSA and optical limiting performance can be attributed to the larger ratio of excited state absorption cross-section to that of the ground state of H;TPP;.H;TPP;also exhibits superior optical limiting performance, even better than the benchmark RSA material C;.