Objective To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction(BYHWD)on protein kinase B1 (AKT1)and c-Jun amino terminal kinase 1/2(JNK1/2)in rats after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods According to the random number table method,48 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly allocated to four groups:normal control group,sham-operated group,model group,traditional BYHWD group(each n=12). The rat model of right focal cerebral ischemia was established by the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). The rats in BYHWD group were ingested with the decoction of BYHWD 14.2 g/kg after 2 hours of the operation(the main ingredients of BYHWD including astragalus mongholicus 120 g,Chinese angelica 6 g,radix paeoniae rubra 4.5 g, rhizoma ligustici wallichii 3 g,safflower 3 g,peach kernel 3 g,earthworm 3 g),once a day for 7 days. Other groups of animals were given the same amount of normal saline orally. After operation,on the 7th day,the animals were killed,and their brains were taken out. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)assay was used to detect AKT1 mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was applied to measure JNK1/2 protein expression. Results Compared with normal control and sham-operated groups,the level of AKT1 mRNA expression〔absorbance(A)〕was decreased obviously(0.48±0.08 vs. 0.63±0.11,0.61±0.09,both P<0.05),and the number of JNK1/2 positive cells(cell/mm2)was increased significantly(34.13±4.57 vs. 16.15±1.09,16.23±2.05,both P<0.05)in model group;compared with model group,the AKT1 mRNA expression in brain tissue(0.93±0.11)and the number of JNK1/2 positive cells(45.04±5.68)was increased significantly in BYHWD group,the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion BYHWD can up-regulate expressions of AKT1 mRNA and JNK1/2 positive cells in ischemic brain tissue that is one of the mechanisms in the protection of brain.