This study was to investigate the in vitro neuroprotective effects of (2R, 3S)-pinobanksin-3-cinnamate (PNC) in oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration models. Pre-incubation of PNC ($3-20{mu}M$) with PC12 cells for 24 h significantly decreased the $H_2O_2$-induced toxicity, shown by elevating the cell viability and decreasing leakage of LDH. Meanwhile, pre-incubation of PNC could attenuate the redox imbalance in PC12 cells through decreasing the levels of MDA and intracellular ROS, enhancing the activity of SOD and the level of GSH. In addition, apoptosis-related biochemical indicators showed that pre-incubation of PNC would elevate the mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease the release of cytochrome-c and formation of DNA fragmentation, and inhibit activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in exogenous $H_2O_2$-treated PC12 cells. These results suggest that PNC may exert its neuroprotective effects on $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, at least partially through counteracting the oxidative stress and preventing apoptosis mediated via mitochondria pathway. PNC had the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases.