Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Tianshu capsules on focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats

and to explore its initial mechanism.Method: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group

the model group

Tianshu low-dose group（0.6 g·kg-1）

Tianshu high-dose group（1.2 g·kg-1）.After oral administration for 5 days

cerebral ischemia for 90 min and reperfusion for 24 h model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion（MCAO） with thread embolism method.The effect of the Tianshu capsules on survival rate

absence of neurological symptom score

brain water content

infarct volum and pathological lesion to brain tissue were observed

serum creatine rinase brain isoenzyme（CK-BB） and neuronal apoptosis in ischemic rats were measured.Result: Compared with the model group

Tianshu capsules significantly reduced infarct volume（low dose group and high dose group

29.11%

27.85%） and serum CK-BB levels（low dose group and high dose group

9.95

9.87 U·L-1

P<0.01）.Meanwhile Tianshu capsules could improve the symptoms of neurological deficiencies and brain tissue pathological damage（P<0.01）.The neuronal apoptosis and brain water content（low dose group and high dose group

79.03%

78.89%） were reduced（P<0.05）.Conclusion: Tianshu capsules pretreatment on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats has a protective effect by reducing the level of CK-BB and decreasing neuronal apoptosis.