Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischemia and traumatic injury are characterized by progressive neuronal loss and dysfunction. Many neuroprotective agents modulating cellular responses against noxious stimuli, such as oxidative stresses, thereby having anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activity have been studied to develop the therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, the phenolic compounds widely spread in medicinal plants have drawn attention as potential neuroprotective agents. In this review, naturally-occurring neuroprotective phenolics and their underlying mechanisms of neuroprotective actions are summarized.