Objective To study the neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory effects of senegenin on inflammatory factors in nerve cells to identify novel drugs that alleviate the toxic and side effects of anti-tumor drugs. Methods Microglial BV2 cells were cultured in vitro, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to prepare the cell inflammation model. The effects of different concentrations of senegenin (2, 2. 5, 3 μmol / L) on the LPS-induced cellular inflammatory factor nitric oxide (NO) were observed to determine the optimal dose of senegenin compared with the positive control group ( dexamethasone 10 μmol / L). The concentration of NO in inflammatory medium was detected by Griess Reagent. Results The effects of different concentrations of senegenin on the production of NO in LPS-induced BV2 cells were different. Compared with the LPS group, the anti-inflammatory effects of senegenin (5, 25, 50, 100 μmol / L) were not obvious. Moreover, the concentration of NO in the inflammatory medium was increased by 50 and 100, indicating a proinflammatory effect. In addition, in the senegenin 1, 2, 4, and 8 μmol / L dose range, 1, 2, and 2 kept up with each other and had significant anti-inflammatory effects (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01). The low doses of senegenin had anti-inflammatory effects. All doses of senegenin, especially 2 μmol / L (P < 0. 001), significantly reduced the concentration of NO. According to this result , senegenin was divided into low, medium and high dose groups in a follow-up test. CoX-2 mRNA expression in the senegenin 2 and 2. 5 μmol / L groups was significantly decreased (P < 0. 001) compared with the LPS group, but was slightly lower than that in the dexamethasone group. In addition, compared with the LPS group, 2, 2. 5, and 3 μmol / L senegenin reduced CoX-2 protein levels, with the most significant effect shown for 2 μmol / L senegenin ( P < 0. 05). Conclusions Senegenin reduces the release and expression of inflammatory factors in microglia induced by LPS, suggesting senegenin has neurotrophic effects that might protect nerve cells from inflammatory injury.