Objective: In order to evaluate the differences in ability of learning and memory of offspring between normal and blood-stasis pregnant rats treated with Curcumae Rhizoma. Method: One hundred female Wistar rats were randomized into normal group and blood-stasis model group. A model of blood stasis model in rats by injecting adrenalin and simultaneously being immersed in ice water was used. The rats were mated and pregnant rats of two groups were randomized into the low

medium and large dose (1.4

2.8

5.6 g·kg-1) and control sub-group. Curcumae Rhizoma was orally administered to pregnant rats from gestational day (GD) 6 through 19 at dose levels of 0

1.4

2.8

5.6 g·kg-1. The functions of learning and memory of the infant rats from the postnatal day 28 to 32 were determined with Morris water maze. Result: There was a difference in ability of learning and memory of offspring between normal and blood-stasis pregnant rats treated with Curcumae Rhizoma. Compared with the blank group

the infant rats in normal pregnant group treated with Curcumae Rhizoma at 5.6 g·kg-1 had significantly longer escape latency to find the platform on postnatal day 29 to 31

whereas the number of crossings over a platform position was significantly decreased. We could not find any significant changes in that of blood-stasis rats group. Conclusion: Ability of learning and memory of offspring of normal pregnant rats was weaker than that of offspring of blood-stasis pregnant rats treated with Curcumae Rhizoma

confirmed the rationality of evaluating the toxicity of Chinese medicines based on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome theory.