Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most important neurodegenerative worldwide disorders. It is characterized by a selective and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, causing a series of symptoms which might ultimately induce programmed cell death. The potential cytoprotective effects of one of the commercial extracts of Anemopaegma mirandum (Catuaba), a Brazilian tree, on Rotenone-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastomas SH-SY5Y cells was demonstrated. The cell viability, analysis of cellular morphology, nuclei morphology and ultra structural research were done by MTT-tetrazole (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, phase contrast microscopy, stained with Hoechst 33258 and electron microscopy transmission, respectively. Three different concentrations of Catuaba extract were used (0.312, 0.625 and 1.250 mg/mL). These extracts promoted an increase of 22.3+/-3.6%, 22.0+/-2.1% and 15.8+/-0.7% on the cell viability. Notable changes in the cellular morphology, condensation of the cell body, nuclear fragmentation and condensation into discrete dense chromatin clumps were observed when the cells were treated with 300 nM Rotenone for 48 h. These effects were partially altered when the extract of A. mirandum was added to the Rotenone treatment. Ultra structural analysis by electron microscopy demonstrated that citoplasmatic membranes and mitochondria membrane were also clearly preserved in the group treated with the extract. Therefore, in this study, our findings indicated that extracts of A. mirandum have cytoprotective effects on Rotenone-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastomas SH-SY5Y cells.