To observe improvement effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in cognitive ability of focal ischemia model rats and explore its effects on the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.Methods:A total of 30 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(n=10)，model group(n=10)and Chinese materia medica group(n=10).The rats in the model group and the Chinese materia medica group received modified acute focal ischemia modeling(MCAO).After the modeling，the rats in the Chinese materia medica group received intragastric administration of Buyang Huanwu Decoction once a day for 14 d.The rats in the sham operation group and the model group were given the same dose of normal saline for the same time as the Chinese materia medica group.After the intervention，behavior，volume of cerebral infarction，morphology of hippocampus and levels of PI3K，Akt and p-Akt protein/mRNA in brain tissue were compared in each group.Results:1)Buyang Huanwu Decoction could significantly shorten the swimming track and escape latency of rats，and there was significant difference compared to that in the model group(P<0.05).2)Buyang Huanwu Decoction could reduce the cerebral infarction volume of MCAO rats，and there was significant difference compared to that in the model group(P<0.05).3)Buyang Huanwu Decoction could reduce pathological injury signs of hippocampal tissue after the MCAO，up-regulate the expressions of PI3K，p-Akt，Bcl-2 protein and mRNA，and decrease the levels of Bax protein and mRNA，which were significantly different from those in the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Buyang Huanwu Decoction can improve the cognitive ability of MCAO rats，and its mechanism may be related to mediating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.