Abstract: OBJECTIVE 　To study the protective effect of ginkgolide K on cerebral ischemia. METHODS 　 Anoxia was produced by close normobaric hypoxia; the survival time of mice was determined; acute incomplete cerebral ischemia was induced by ligaturing bilateral carotid arterise; breath time, brain lactic acid content and alkaline phosphatase activities, brain index and brain water content were detected, morphologic change was observed. RESULTS 　Ginkgolide K prolonged the survival time of hypoxic-ischemic mice in dose-dependent manner. In acute incomplete cerebral ischemia mice, ginkgolide K extended breathing time, reduced lactic acid content, decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, lessened brain index and brain water content. Moreover, pathological examination showed that ginkgolide K ameliorated the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice nerve cells and reduced tissue necrosis. CONCLUSION 　Ginkgolide K has a protective effect on ischemia brain damage.