The major ingredients of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome are β-asarone and eugenol, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect neurons. This study aimed to observe the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of β-asarone and eugenol, components of the Chinese herb grassleaf sweetflag rhizome, on PC12 cells. First, PC12 cells were cultured with different concentrations(between 1 × 10–10 M and 1 × 10–5 M) of β-asarone and eugenol. Survival rates of PC12 cells were not significantly affected. Second, PC12 cells incubated with amyloid-beta42, which reduced cell survival, were cultured under the same conditions(1 × 10–6 M β-asarone and eugenol). The survival rates of PC12 cells significantly increased, while expression levels of the m RNAs for the pro-apoptotic protein Bax decreased, and those for the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl m RNA increased. In addition, the combination of β-asarone with eugenol achieved better results than either component alone. Our experimental findings indicate that both β-asarone and eugenol protect PC12 cells through inhibiting apoptosis, and that the combination of the two is better than either alone. The major ingredients of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome are β-asarone and eugenol, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect neurons. This study aimed to observe the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of β-asarone and eugenol, components of the Chinese herb grassleaf sweetflag PC12 cells were not significantly affected. Second, PC12 cells were cultured in different concentrations (between 1 × 10 -10 M and 1 × 10 -5 M) of β-asarone and eugenol. PC12 cells incubated with amyloid-beta 42, which reduced cell survival, were cultured under the same conditions (1 × 10 -6 M β-asarone and eugenol). The survival rates of PC12 cells significantly increased, while expression levels of the m RNAs for the pro-apoptotic protein Bax decreased, and those for the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl m RNA increased. In addition, the combination of β-asarone with eugenol achieved better results than either component alone. Our experimental findi ngs indicates that both β-asarone and eugenol protect PC12 cells through inhibiting apoptosis, and that the combination of the two is better than either alone.