AIM: To study the protective effect and mechanism of panax notoginseng saponinsa(PNS) for dealing with rats with middle cerebral artery ischemia reperfusion(CI/RP). METHODS: To establish the rat middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion model with suture occlusion technique and record the neurologic impairment evaluation score on the basis of Zea Longa method,measured the infarct volume,and the others were detected neuron apoptosis by TUNEL technology and endogenous brain-derived neurotropic factor(BDNF) expression by immunohistochemistry technology. RESULTS: The administration of PNS to rat decreased neurologic impairment,reduced infarct volume,inhibited the neuron apoptosis,and increased endogenous BDNF expression after 24 hours CI/RP. CONCLUSION: Increasing endogenous BDNF expression after CI/RP might be the mechanisms of PNS for achieving neuroprotections.