Abstract:Objective : To observe the effect of the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) and the components isolated from the extract named ginkgolide B (GB) against damage of glutamate in pretreatment modes so that determine their application value and approach. Method : Based on glutamate-induced excitotoxicity to primary cultures from neonatal Sprague-Dawley(SD) rat hippocampal neuron, our experiment utilized trypan blue, TUNEL and LDH to study the effect of EGb761and GB on neuron in different doses pretreatment modes, as well as to compare with the NMDA receptor uncompetitive antagonist-MK-801. Result : EGb761 and GB can recrease cell viability, reduce apoptosis rate and decrease LDH leakage in different degree and depended on dose in certain range. The maximal protection was achieved at a concentration of 100 mg·L-1, 100 μmol·L-1, but inferior to MK-801 (10 μmol·L-1). The protective effect of GB is superior to EGb761. Conclusion : Treatment with EGb761 and GB could protect the neurons against glutamate-induced injury. The maximal protection of GB was achieved by pretreatment is superior to EGb761, so its precautionanary intervention to high-risk population could have more value.