A composition for preventing and treating brain disease comprising the extract of Dioscorea opposita thunb showing neuronal cell-protecting activity is provided to inhibit cell death caused by glutamate and hydrogen peroxide neurotoxin, and protect brain neuronal cells. The composition for preventing and treating brain disease comprises the crude extract or non-polar solvent extract of Dioscorea opposita thunb, wherein the crude extract of Dioscorea opposita thunb is prepared with a solvent selected from water, methanol or butanol; the non-polar solvent extract of Dioscorea opposita thunb is prepared with a solvent selected from ethyl acetate, hexane and chloroform; and the brain disease is cerebral apoplexy, Parkinson's disease, senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
A composition comprising the extract of Dioscorea opposita thunb showing neuronal cell-protecting activity for preventing and treating brain disease