Objective To investigate the effect of 1,8-cineol on caspase 3 expression and NO production induced by Aβ25-35 in PC12 cells. Methods PC12 cells were cultured in vitro, and cell injury was induced by Aβ25-35 with a concentration of 20 μM. 1,8-cineol (1, 3, 10 μM) was pretreated before Aβ25-35 treatment. PC12 cell viability was evaluated by MTT detection assay. Caspase 3 protein expression was detected by Western blotting. The level of NO production in PC12 cells was measured using ELISA detection assay kit. Results In cultured PC12 cells in vitro, MTT results showed that 20 μM of Aβ25-35 reduced cell viability significantly compared with control group. The cell viability was increased by pretreatment with 1,8-cineol with concentrations of 3 and 10 μM compared with Aβ25-35 only group. Western blotting results showed compared with control group, caspase 3 expression was increased significantly in 20 μM Aβ25-35 group. Compared with Aβ25-35 group, 1,8-cineol of 3 and 10 μM group reduced caspase 3 protein expression significantly. The level of NO production in PC12 cells was increased significantly, which was decreased by pretreatment with 3 and 10 μM of 1,8-cineol. Conclusions: Our results revealed a protective effect of 1,8-cineol on Aβ25-35 induced PC12 cell injury through inhibition of caspase 3 expression and NO production.