Objective To explore the potential mechanism of Shennao Fuyuan Decoction（ 肾脑复元汤

SFD）combined with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell（ h UC-MSC） transplantation in treating ischemic stroke.Methods Seventy-five rats were randomized into a sham-operation group

a model group

a Chinese herbs group

a stem cell group and a combination group

with 15 rats in each group. The model of middle cerebral artery ischemiareperfusion was built in each group except for the sham-operation group. Since the first day after modeling

the Chinese herbs group and the combination group were given 11. 6 g/kg of SFD by gavage

while the other 3 groups were given 10 ml/kg of distilled water by gavage

once a day for 15 days. The stem cell group and the combination group were gently injected 1 × 106 h UC-MSCs through caudal vein on the first day after modeling. The neural function was scored 24 h before operation

and 2 h

the 4th day

8th day and 15 th day after operation. The apoptotic cells were marked by TUNEL staining on the 4th

8th and 15 th day after modeling respectively

and the serum expressions of tumor necrosis factor α（ TNF-α）

interleukin 1β（ IL-1β）

interleukin 6（ IL-6） and interleukin 10（ IL-10） were detected. Results Compared with those in the model group

the neural function scores lower

the apoptotic cell number reclined

the expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 dropped

and IL-10 expression increased in the Chinese herbs group on the 8th and 15 th day

as well as in the stem cell group and the combination group on the 4th

8th and 15 th day after modeling（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）; compared with that in the Chinese herbs group

the expression of TNF-αlowered in the combination group on the 4th and 8th day（ P < 0. 05）; compared with those in the Chinese herbs group and the stem cell group

the expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased on the 8th day

and the neural score lowered

while the apoptotic cell number decreased

and the expression of IL-10 raised on the 8th and 15 th day in the combination group（ P < 0. 05）. Conclusion FD combined with h UC-MSC transplantation could promote the neural function recovery in rats with the middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion

and its mechanism may have some relations with regulating the inflammatory reactions.