Cerebral ischemia is the third leading cause of death in the western world. According to the WHO 15 million of the world's population suffer cerebral ischemia each year. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and cow colostrum in bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO)-induced global ischemia-reperfusion injury. Cow colostrum is claimed to have antioxidant effects and TMP is popularly used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of cow colostrum and TMP. They appear to be promising drugs for the prophylaxis and treatment of global cerebral ischemia.