Abstract: To study the cognitive effects of diterpene ginkgolides (DG), transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO)-induced rats were established. tMCAO-rats induced by suture method were divided into sham operation group, solvent control group, NBP group, DG group. The animal experiments in the present study were performed in accordance with the Ethical Guidelines of the Laboratory Animal Welfare Ethical Committee of Peking Union Medical College (00000646, 00000635). The effects of DG on tMCAO rats were evaluated by neurological severity score, cerebral infarction volume measurement, step-down and Morris water maze test. In the acute tMCAO rat model, 100 mg·kg^-1 DG improved the neural score and infarction volume. In the chronic tMCAO rat model, DG 100 mg·kg^-1 significantly improved the survival rate of tMCAO-induced rats. The Morris water maze results showed 100 mg·kg^-1 DG decreased the latency of tMCAO-induced rats to find the platform, while the effect was weaker than the NBP. However, DG 30 mg·kg^-1 did not show a significant effect. In conclusion, DG exerted a therapeutic effect on transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.