Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of "Yiwei Decoction（Decoction for reinforcing the stomach） in delaying the aging of the primary senile rat ovary.Methods The 4～6 months old SD female rats were set to be normal control group.The 10～12 months old SD female rats with vaginal cytological oestrus elongation were set as the primary senile female rat models

who were randomized into 5 groups:high dose Yiwei Decoction group;middle dose Yiwei Decoction group;low dose Yiwei Decoction group;diethylstilbestrol group;model control group.The intervention by gavage lasted 4 weeks.The left ovaries were tested by immunohistochemical method to observe the expression of Bcl-2

Bax

Caspase 3 and cytochrome C.Results Compared with the model control group

Yiwei Decoction could increase the expression of Bcl-2

decrease the expression of Bax

increase the proportion of Bcl-2/Bax（P<0.05）

decrease the expression of Caspase3

Cytochrome C

and ovary apoptosis

but not to the degree of the normal control group.And the high

middle and low dose Yiwei Decoction groups presented a dose-effect relationship.Conclusion The results showed that Yiwei Decoction can restrain ovary apoptosis through inhibiting the cascade reaction caused by mitochondrion path.This might be one of the mechanisms of Yiwei Decoction delaying the aging of ovary in primary senile rat.