Abstract: Objective To study the effect of Buy anghuanw urecipe on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and its underlying mechanism in gerbils.Methods Malegerbils(n=188)were divided randomly into four groups:control group,model group,high and low dose of Buy anghuanwu recipe treatment group.Transient forebra in ischemia model was established with bilateral common carotidartery occlusion according to Kirino's method.The p38 mitogen-activated prote in kinase(MAPK) phosphorylation expression was detected with mimunohisto chemistry and western-blot.Neuron apoptosis was detected with terminal deoxynuc leotidyl transfernase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)method.Learning and memory function of the gerbils were tested withe ightarm maze.Results One hour,6 hours,one day,and 3 days after the ischemia,the p38 MAPK pho sphorylation expressions were 1.85±01 86,4.40±1.26,6.70±1.87,and 5.67±1.58,respectively,which were significantly enhanced compared with those of the contrl group(P<0.05).The number of neural apoptotic cells were 9.60± 2.69,12.68±2.99,16.94±3.92,and 25.82±4.61/section at 6 hours,1,3,and 7days after the ischemia,which were significantly enhanced compared with those of the control group(P<0.05).The eightarm maze behavioral test showed that the total error and the times of reference memory error increased.Compared with the model group,the p38 MAPK phosphorylation expressions and the number of neural apoptotic cells decreased obviously in high dose of Buy anghuanw urecipe group(P<0.05).Mean while the total error times and the times of reference memory error decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Buyang huan wurecipe miproves cognition function after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion,which is related to modulation of p38 MAPK signal path way and inhibition of neuronal apoptosis.