Background Several studies suggest that cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） contributes to the delayed progression of ischemic brain damage. This study was designed to investigate whether COX-2 inhibition with parecoxib reduces focal cerebral ischemia/eperfusion injury in rats. Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups： the sham group, ischemia/reperfusion （I/R） group and parecoxib group. The parecoxib group received 4 mg/kg of parecoxib intravenously via the vena dorsalis penis 15 minutes before ischemia and again at 12 hours after ischemia. The neurological deficit scores （NDSs） were evaluated at 24 and 72 hours after reperfusion. The rats then were euthanized. Brains were removed and processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, and measurements of high mobility group Box 1 protein （HMGB1） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） levels. Infarct volume was assessed with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Results The rats in the I/R group had lower NDSs （P 〈0.05）, larger infarct volume （P 〈0.05）, lower HMGB1 levels （P 〈0.05）, and higher TNF-α levels （P 〈0.05） compared with those in the sham group. Parecoxib administration significantly improved NDSs, reduced infarct volume, and decreased HMGB1 and TNF-α levels （P 〈0.05）. Conclusions Pretreatment with intravenous parecoxib was neuroprotective. Its effects may be associated with the attenuation of inflammatory reaction and the inhibition of inflammatory mediators.