Objective: To study the protective effect of baicalin spray on focal cerebral ischemia in rats

and to explore its possible therapeutic mechaniam. Method: SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups: sham operation group

model group

baicalin’s spray groups with high

middle and low dose

nimodipine 0.4 mg ·kg-1 group and blank emulsion group. Baicalin’s spray groups were given baicalin (2.66

1.33

0.66 mg ·kg-1

respectively)by nasal administration

and nimodipine group was injected. After 5 days

focal cerebral ischemia model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).After 2 days of continued administration

the extent of neurological deficits was evaluated by Longa method and the content of brain water was assayed by weighing method

the level of SOD in serum and Ca2+-ATP in brain tissues were determined by the Ultravident Spectrophoto-metric. Result: Compared with the model group

neurological deficits scores of baicalin’s spray groups with high

middle

low dose group(1.06±0.80)

(1.00±0.84)

(0.89±0.94)

was significantly decreased(P<0.01); the content of brain water(79.33±1.46)%

(79.34±1.01)% was significantly decreased(P<0.01)

the low dose groups was also decreased(P<0.05). The content of SOD in serum (177.622±5.224) U ·mL-1)

(160.350±41.139) U ·mL-1

(167.279±6.450) U ·mL-1

and the content of Ca2+-ATP in brain tissues (3.444±3.730)

(3.192±1.298)

(2.866±0.156) U ·mg-1 were highly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Baicalin spray has protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia injury; its machanism may be related to the anti-free radical and improvement of energy metabolism.