Objective:To study the effects of total salvianolic acid(Sal)on focal cerebral ischemic injury and antioxidase activities.Methods:Focal cerebral ischemia in rats was produced by 24h occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO)and 2 or 24h reperfusion.The infarct area was measured by 2,3,5 triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining technique.The cerebral water content was determined by wet/dry weighing method and the content of neurological deficits were evaluated by 0～7 scales.The activities of 4 antioxidases in ischemic tissue of brain were analyzed.Results:The decrease in infarct area and water content as well as improvement in neurological deficits were significant by intravenous injection of Sal 5.0,10.0 mg/kg 24h post operation.A significant increase in activities of SOD,GSH PX and catalase and significant decrease in activities of GSH ST in rats were observed during the early stage of reperfusion.However,the activities of all the enzymes mentioned above were significantly decreased 24h after reperfusion.The activities of SOD,GSH PX,and catalase under reperfusion could be risen further by Sal but no effect on GSH ST.Conclusion:Sal has a neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemic injury and this effect may be related to increase in activities of SOD,GSH PX,and catalase.