Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect about aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS Two hunderd and forty rats were divided into 6 groups (40 rats per group):sham operation group, model group, Saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge low medium high dose group (10, 20, 40 mg·kg^-1) and nimodipine group (12 mg·kg^-1). Plug-line method was used to make focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion of middle cerebral artery occlusion model of rats. After 48 h, the neurological score, Cerebral infarction range and brain water content was detected. The Evans blue method was used to detect the permeability of blood-brain barriers in each group. ELISA was used to detect the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β. Western blot was used to detect the expression of AQP-4. HE strain was made to observe morphological changes of brain tissue. RESULTS Saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge could improve the nerve damage symptoms and pathological changes of brain tissue of MCAO rat, reduce brain water content, infarct size, blood-brain barrier permeability and the expression of AQP-4, TNF-α, L-6, IL-1β. CONCLUSION Saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge can protect cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. This effect may be regulated by reducing the expression of AQP-4 and TNF-α, L-6, IL-1β.