Objective To study the effects of butylphthalide on cognitive function,apoptosis and pp38MAPK in hippocampus of rat model of vascular dementia.Methods The vascular dementia (VD) model was established by two vascular (2VO) method,and then sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into VD group,sham operation group and NBP (butylphthalide) group.Rats in NBP group were given 120 mg · kg-1 · day-1 dose butylphthalide by gavage,and rats in VD group and sham operation group were given the same dose vegetable oil.The cognitive function of each rat was tested by Morris water maze.The expression of p-p38MAPK in the hippocampus was observed by Western blot;and the apoptosis was observed in hippocampal CAl region by TUNEL staining.Results The hidden platform escape latency of NBP group ((48.72 ± 7.01) s,(42.41 ± 4.06) s,(40.34 ± 2.46) s)was significantly shortened compared with those of VD group((82.71±8.27) s,(80.36±9.65) s,(77.74±6.33) s)(P＜ 0.01) ; and the former platform quadrant time and the number of passing through the platform of NBP group ((26.45±4.66)s,(1.84±0.82) times) were significantly prolonged (P＜0.01) compared with those of VD group ((18.67±5.39) s,(1.32±0.61) times);the apoptosis and the expression of p38MAPK phosphorylation in hippocampus in NBP group ((153.65±9.85),(0.42±0.04)) significantly reduced (P＜0.01) compared with those of VD group ((209.46±11.49),(0.88±0.10)).Conclusion Butylphthalide can improve the learning and memory ability of VD rats,the reduce apoptosis in the hippocampus by the inhibition of the P38MAPK pathway.This may be one of the ways by which butylphthalide can treat vascular dementia.