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Objective: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect and possible mechanisms of Chinese Medicine SanQiTongShuan(SQTS) on rats in stroke recovery period.

Methods: The cerebral ischemia stroke recovery period model was successfully induced by FeCl3 after the fourth day and balance beam test≤4. A total of 70 rats were used in experiments. 60 model rats were divided into six groups (n=10). The model group was administered 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC), the treated groups were administered SQTS (0.5, 1, 2 g /kg), and the positive control groups were administered Naodesheng (NDS, 1.24 g /kg) and Vinpocetine (VP, 1.55 mg/kg). In addition, the other 10 rats served as a sham group and were administered 0.5% CMC. Rats in the each group were treated each day last for 30 days orally with the volume of 10 ml/kg. The motor function of beam-walking test and forelimb muscle strength were performed before the occlusion and lasted for 10, 20 and 30 d after administration. The serum inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, ICAM-1 and VCAM were measured by assay kits. In addition, the optical microscopic examination of the serial sections of impact areas was performed.

Results: The ischemic rats displayed signs of brain damage on motor function, forelimb muscle strength and histopathology. SQTS (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g /kg) restored the beam-walking scores by 14.8% (P>0.05), 22.2%(P>0.05), 37%(P<0.05) after 20 d treatment and 24.0%(P>0.05), 48.0%(P<0.05), 40.0%(P<0.05) after 30 d treatment; increased the strength by 39.0%(P>0.05), 45.6%(P>0.05), 54.0%(P<0.05) after 20 d treatment and 40.3%(P>0.05), 43.7%(P<0.05), 54.5%(P<0.05) after 30 d treatment. On the other hand, the histological changes were less severe and the inflammatory factors IL-6, TNFα, VCAM were decreased at the different degree, with respect to the model group.

Conclusion: We proposed that SQTS, a promising Traditional Chinese Medicine Patent Prescription, can be used as a therapeutic agent for stroke recovery period via alleviating inflammatory responses.