Two new quinochalcone glycosides, hydroxysafflor yellow A-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3'-hydroxyhydroxysafflor yellow A (2), were isolated from the safflower yellow pigments of Carthamus tinctorius. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by a detailed spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, ECD). The in vitro assay indicated that compound 1 could improve the survived rate of primary mouse cortical neurons on glutamate-induced neurons damage model at a concentration of 10 μM. Graphical Abstract