Objective: To observe the effects of Huoxue Xifeng recipe (HXR) on neuronal apoptosis and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in brain tissue after focal cerebral infarction(FCI) in rats. Methods: 40 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group

model group

HXR group(20

10

5 g·kg-1 as high

moderate and low dose respectively). The model of FCI was established based on the principle of photo-chemical initiation of thrombosis. Intragastric administration of HXR continued 7 days before modeling and stoped the administration 24 h after the modeling. TUNEL technique was used to examine neuronal apoptosis

immunohistochemical and confocal laser scanning microscope methods to examine the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in brain tissue. Results: Compared with the model group

the apoptosis of neural cells and the expression of Bax protein significantly decreased in the HXR groups. However

the expression of Bcl-2 protein and Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased significantly ( P ＜0.01 or P ＜0.05). Conclusion: HXR has a action of resisting neuronal apoptosis for FCI in rats

the mechanism of neuroprotection may be related to increase in Bcl-2 expression

decrease in Bax expression and increase in Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio.