Objective To explore the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of Xingnaojing on nerve cell autophagy after cerebral ischemia reperfusion（ CIR）. Methods Rat models of middle cerebral artery（ MCA） ischemia reperfusion were prepared with line embolism. Totally 90 2-score models were chosen by Longa Score method and were randomized into the magnetic resonance imaging（ MRI） group（ 20 mice） and Western blot（ WB） group（ 70mice）. Then the rats in MRI group were randomized into the model control group and Xingnaojing group

with 10 in each. The rats in WB group were randomized into the model group

solvent group

Xingnaojing group

3-MA group

3-MA and Xingnaojing group

Rapa group

and Rapa and Xingnaojing group

with 10 in each. The infarct volume of rats in MRI group was measured with MRI before and after medication

and the infarct volume ratio was calculated.The expression of autophagy related proteins of rats in WB group was detected with immunoblotting. Results The infarct volume ratio in MRI group was significantly increased 24 hours after medication（ P < 0. 05）. The infarct volume ratio in Xingnaojing group was significantly smaller than that in the model control group（ P < 0. 05）. In WB group

comparing with the model group

the expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 were significantly decreased but the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased in Xingnaojing group

3-MA group

and 3-MA and Xingnaojing group（ P <0.05）

especially in 3-MA and Xingnaojing group（ P <0.05）. The expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 in Rapa group and Rapa and Xingnaojing group were significantly higher than those in the model group

Xingnaojing group

3-MA group

and 3-MA and Xingnaojing group（ P < 0. 05）. The expression of Bcl-2 in Rapa group and Rapa and Xingnaojing group was significantly lower than that in the model group

3-MA group

and 3-MA and Xingnaojing group（ P < 0. 05）. The expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 in Rapa and Xingnaojing group was significantly lower than those in Rapa group（ P < 0. 05）. The expression of Bcl-2 in Rapa and Xingnaojing group was significantly higher than that in Rapa group（ P < 0. 05）. The expression of Bcl-2 and Beclin1 was negatively correlated. Conclusion Xingnaojing can inhibit rat autophagy during cerebral ischemia and improve survival rate of injured nerve cells.