ObjectiveTo explore the protective effect of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix （SP） extract on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R）-injured SH-SY5Y cells based on oxidative stress and apoptosis. MethodThe extracts of the two medicinal materials mixed in different ratios were prepared. Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the injury was induced by OGD/R. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to screen the optimal ratio of the two medicinals and then the extract was used for further experiment. SH-SY5Y cells were classified into normal control group， OGD/R group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose SP （2∶1） extract groups （10， 30， 100 mg·L^-1， respectively）. Cells in the groups， except the normal control group， were rapidly reoxygenated for 12 h after 4 h OGD for modeling. Then cell viability was detected by CCK-8 and cell morphology was observed under the microscope. The release rate of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity， and content of glutathione （GSH） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were determined by spectrophotometry. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） was detected with 2，7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate （DCFH-DA） and mitochondrial membrane potential with JC-1 assay. The nuclear morphology was observed based on Hoechst 33342 staining， and apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry combined with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. ResultThe viability of the cells was highest in the presence of the extract of the two medicinals mixed at the ratio of 2∶1. Compared with normal control group， OGD/R group showed damaged cell morphology， high release rate of LDH and levels of ROS and MDA （P<0.01）， low SOD activity and GSH level （P<0.01）， low mitochondrial membrane potential， and high apoptosis rate （P<0.01）. Compared with OGD/R group， SP extract improved cell viability and cell morphology and reduce cell LDH release rate in a concentration-dependent manner （P<0.01）. In addition， SP extract at 30， 100 mg·L^-1 reduced the level of intracellular ROS and increased SOD activity and GSH level （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and SP extract at 100 mg·L^-1 decreased the content of MDA （P <0.05）. Moreover， SP extract increased mitochondrial membrane potential， and SP extract at 30， 100 mg·L^-1 lowered the apoptosis rate （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Radix Puerariae mixed at 2∶1 shows better protective effect on OGD/R-injured SH-SY5Y cells. The mechanism is the likelihood that it alleviates oxidative damage of cells and inhibits cell apoptosis.