The neuron protective activity of the chemical constituents from Rheum nanum and Rheum sublanceolatum in vitro was investigated using cultured embryonic mouse cortical cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation. The protective effect was quantitatively evaluated by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase release rate. Most of the compounds reduce the lactate dehydrogenase release rate, including emodin, chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 6-hydroxymusizin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, gnetin C, torachrysone-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and maesopsin, and all possess potent neuron protective activity. Chrysophanol and aloe-emodin exhibit neuron protection only at low concentrations. Emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside protects the neuron cells at high concentration. Aloe-emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside is inactive.