The study investigated the effect of aminoguanidine (AG) on surgical brain injury (SBI) in rat. AG (75, 150 and 300mg/kg, i.p.) was administered immediately following surgical resection. Using a SBI model, we found that AG (150mg/kg) significantly reduced cerebral edema, while AG at the doses of 75 and 300mg/kg had no effect. And AG (150mg/kg) significantly reduced Evans Blue extravasation into brain tissue and improved the neurological outcome compared to control group. Moreover, the expression of TNF-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA and protein in brain tissue at the edge of the resection site increased at 24h after SBI, which could be significantly attenuated by the treatment with AG via RT-PCR and Western blots methods. Our results demonstrated that SBI causes increased brain edema, BBB disruption and inflammation along the periphery of the site of surgical resection, which could be significantly improved by the treatment of AG.