Objective: Polygalasaponin F(PGSF)is extracted from Polygala japonica Houtt,which is a traditional Chinese medicine.This study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of PGSF during Hypoxic ischemic brain damage(HIBD)in rats.Methods: we established the primary myocardial cell OGD/R model in vitro and middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model in vivo.Cell viability,cell apoptosis and infarct size were detected.The level of creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-Mb),aspartate amino transferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),creatinine(Cr)and urea nitrogen(Bun)were measured by biochemical analysis assays.Levels of the antioxidantssuperoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),and reactive oxygen species(ROS)were also determined.Myocardial and cerebral cell morphology were observed by HE staining.The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was measured by western blot analysis.Result: The Result: s showed that treatment with PGSF increased cell viability and decreased myocardial apoptosis,the levels of LDH,MDA and ROS in vitro.The Result: s in vivo showed that treatment of PGSF dose-dependently reduced infarct size,myocardial apoptosis,cerebral apoptosis,the levels of MDA,ROS,CK-Mb,AST,ALT,ALP,Cr and Bun,and increased the activities of SOD compared with those in control rats.PGSF reversed the pathological changes of cell morphology caused by HIBD in rats.Administration of PGSF also increased the expression of Bcl-2 in vivo,as well as in vitro.PGSF showed no significant effect on Bax protein expression.Conclusion: the study demonstrates that PGSF has significant cardioprotective effects in HIBD rats,which is likely to be due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties.PGSF can also protect the liver and modulate kidney function.