Cortical neuronal cultures were exposed to total ginkgolides (TG) in order to find out whether TG could rescue cultured cortical neurons from neurotoxicity damages. The cellular injuries were induced in the cells after 10 days in vitro by exposure to 1 mM L-glutamate (Glu) for 6–12 hr in serum-free medium, to 0.2 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 6-12 hr, and then to free-glucose and hypoxia medium (an ischaemia model in vitro) for 4 hr. TG (0.01 to 100 ug/ml) was added to the growth medium 12 hr prior to or simultaneously the damage protected cortical neurons from toxic damages. Neuronal viability was confirmed by the assay of 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT). The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from the cultured medium was also detected. The results of present study demonstrated that TG protected cortical neurons from toxic damages induced by Glu, H2O2 or free-glucose and hypoxia.