To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of the active ingredients in Huanglian Jiedu decoction in preventing brain nerve cell damage in a cell model of Parkinson’ s disease. Methods SH-SY5Y cells were divided into five groups: control group, model group, palmatine group, wogonin group and geniposide group. No substance was added to the cell culture medium of the control group, whereas 500 μmol / L of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ions (MPP+) was added to the other groups to create a cell model of Parkinson’ s disease. The palmatine group was supplemented with 10 μmol / L of palmatine, the wogonin group was supplemented with 50 μmol / L of wogonin, and the geniposide group was supplemented with 50 μmol / L of geniposide. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8, cell apoptosis was evaluated using Hoechst 33258 staining, and the expressions of α-synuclein (α-Syn) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were detected by immunofluorescence. The concentrations of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)、interferon-γ (IFN-γ)、interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA levels of the apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 were detected by Real-time PCR. Results MPP+ stimulation significantly decreased the viability of SH-SY5Y cells; the α-synuclein fluorescence intensity was significantly increased,and the number of TH-positive cells was significantly decreased. Intervention with palmatine, wogonin and geniposide significantly increased the viability, decreased the α-synuclein fluorescence intensity, and increased the number of THpositive cells; furthermore, the concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β and the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA were significantly reduced, whereas the level of Bcl-2 mRNA was increased. Conclusions The active ingredients of Huanglian Jiedu decoction inhibit the release of inflammatory factors and thus inhibit the inflammatory response, providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of brain nerve cell injury in Parkinson’s disease.