Aim To explore the effect of Buyanghuanwu decoction(BYHWD)on angiogenesis in rats after focal cerebral ischemia.Methods The model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats was reproduced by middle cerebral artery occlusion.Rats were randomly divided into navie,shame-operated,ischemia,Buyanghuanwu decoction(BYHWD),ED and BYHWD+ED group.Animals were received BrdU-labeled and killed at 1,7,14 and 28 day point after operation.BrdU and vWF were measured by immunohistochemical staining.Results There was a certain BrdU or vWF positive cells in normal brain,after cerebral ischemia BrdU positive cells were increased and reached the peak at 7 day.The expression of BrdU or positive cells of ED group were less than the others remarkably at the same time point(P<0.05).BYHWD can significantly increase the expression of BrdU or vWF.The increase was statistically significant at 7 and 14 day point after ischemia(P<0.05).The expression of BYHWD+ED groups was more than model and ED group at 7 day time point(P<0.05),but less than BYHWD group(P<0.05).Compared to the other groups,there was statistical significance on BYHWD for decreasing the number of nerve function at 7 and 14 day points(P<0.05).The effection of decreasing nerve function number on BYHWD+ED was better than model and ED groups(P<0.05),but less than BYHWD(P<0.05).Conclusion BYHWD may promote the angiogenesis in rats after focal cerebral ischemia.BYHWD can partly promote the angiogenesis which ED restrained.The result shows that it affects ischemia by other ways.