We recently reported that Gastrodia elata extracts (GEE) had an effects to protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive impairment in vivo model. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of action of GEE in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell death of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell. The SH-SY5Y cells were divided into five groups, including control(non-treated group), 100 μM H2O2, 100, 200, 500 ㎍/㎖ GEE+ 100 μM H2O2 groups. Pre- and co-treatment with GEE prevented cell death induced by 100 μM H2O2 for 24 h in SH-SY5Y cells. Our findings also showed that anti-oxidants enzymes (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase) were up-regulated by 100 μM H2O2. But GEE suppressed H2O2-induced anti-oxidants enzymes decrease in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with GEE also inhibited phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF-2α) and p38 by H2O2. Taken together, the neuroprotective effects of GEE in terms of recovery of antioxidant enzymes expression, down-regulation of eIF-2α and p38 phosphorylation, and inhibition of cell death are associated with reduced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells.