OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective efficacy of Bunao Fuyuan decoction (BNFY) on cerebral Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)injury.METHODS: The mouse PC12 cells were chosen,and the oxidative-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) injury model were established to simulate cerebral I/R injury.Atorvastatin was selected as a positive drug,and a gradient dose of BNFY was given for 6,12 and 24 h.3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay were used to detect cell viability at each time point.Cell apoptosis was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-botin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining.enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,interleukin (IL)-6,IL-1β and platelet activating factor (PAF).Western blot assay were performed to detect the expression of key regulators[toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4),nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-KB),p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p-Akt (also known as protein kinase B,PKB)]of cell survival and inflammatory response.RESULTS: The results of MTT assay and TUNEL staining assay revealed that BNFY significantly increased cell viability and inhibited cell apoptosis of PC12 cells following OGD/R,respectively.Furthermore,the expression of TNF-α,1L-6,1L-1β and PAF were decreased after BNFY treatment.And the results of Western blot assay showed that BNFY downregulated TLR4,NF-KB,p-p38 MAPK expression and upregulated p-Akt expression.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that BNFY may play a role in protecting OGD/R injured PC12 cells through inhibiting the inflammatory response and cell apoptosis.