Objective To explore the protective effect of Zhenbao pill on acute spinal cord injury of rat and its possible mechanisms.Methods 64 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a injury group and a drug group, with 32 rats in each group, A T10 acute incomplete spinal cord injury model was produced by using modified Allen technique in the two groups,Zhenbao pill mixed suspension of 0.6 g/kg was given by gavage method daily in the drug group 30 min after moding, the same amount of saline was given in the injury group. Behavior detection were conducted in the first day, third day, and the seventh day after modeling to each 8 rats of the two groups. Spinal cord specimens was got centered about the damage points after rats were executed. histopathological changes were observed under HE staining, the MDA content were determined by thiobarbituric acid spectrophotometer and the apoptotic cells were marked by TUNEL method.Results After 1, 3, 7 d, compared with the injury group, the MDA level in the rat spinal cord tissue in the drug group (15.12 ± 1.27 nmol/mgvs.19.71 ± 1.29 nmol/mg, 20.42 ± 1.33 nmol/mgvs.24.65 ±1.36 nmol/mg, 10.46±1.49 nmol/mg vs.15.46 ± 1.44 nmol/mg) decreased(P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of drug groups (19.61% ± 1.49%vs.26.61% ±1.52%, 21.49% ± 1.37% vs.32.37% ± 1.24%, 13.04% ±  1.30%vs.18.35% ± 1.27%)decreased (P<0.05); the BBB score of drug groups (6.52 ± 1.27vs. 2.63 ± 1.27), (12.68 ± 1.32 vs.6.17 ± 1.34), (15.47 ± 1.27 vs.11.57 ± 1.29) was higher than the injury group (P<0.05). Conclusion Zhenbao pill can significantly improve the histopathological examination,reduce the MDA content in the injured spinal cord specimen of the rat and the rate of neuronal apoptosis, which may promote recovery of neurologic function in the rat suffered from ASCI.