OBJECTIVE： To study the neuroprotective effect of Shuxue tongmai （SXTM） capsules on cerebral ischemia- reperfusion injury model rats. METHODS： A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （equal volume 0.9％ sodium chloride solution）， model group （equal volume 0.9％ sodium chloride solution）， nimodipine group （0.01 g/kg）， SXTM capsules low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （0.32， 0.64， 1.28 g/kg）， with 6 rats in each group. Except for sham operation group， cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury model of rats was established in other 5 groups， and relevant medicine was given intragastrically after modeling，once 2 day， for consecutive 28 d. Neurological function deficit scores were by mNSS method obtained before medication and 3， 7， 14， and 28 d after medication. The cortical neuron apoptosis in cortexarea of rats’ braintissue was determined by TUNEL method 28 d after medication. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in cerebral tissue was determined by immunohistochemical staining mothed. RESULTS： Compared with sham operation group， the neurological function deficit score of model group was increased significantly 7， 14， 28 d after medication. The number of apoptotic cell was increased significantly 28 d after medication， and the expression of BDNF was strengthened significantly，there were significient difference （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， neurological function scores of nimodipine group and SXTM capsules low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups were decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The number of apoptotic cell was decreased significantly 28 d after medication （P＜0.01）， and the expression of BDNF was strengthened significantly， there were significient difference （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： SXTM capsules has a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model rats， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and strengthening the expression of BDNF.