Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the protective effect of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. on brain injury in rats following cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, and the effect of the drug-effect site. METHODS There were 6 groups: sham operation group, model group, nimodipine group, saponin group, saponin + volatile oil group, volatile oil group. The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was established. The neurological function score of rats was measured. The water content of brain tissue was measured. The contents of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide(NO) and the activities of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and total superoxide dismutase(SOD) in the cerebral tissue and serum of cerebral ischemia rats were determined by ELISA. Finally, partial least squares method was used to comprehensively analyze the cerebral protective effect of different components of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. on model rats. RESULTS Compared with the model group, the neurological function score of each group decreased, and the brain water content, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA and NO content in the brain tissue and serum of the rats were all decreased. The activity of NOS was inhibited and SOD activity was significantly enhanced. Partial least squares analysis showed that the protective effect of saponin 4.5 mg·kg^-1 on the ischemic reperfusion model of rats was stronger than that of saponin+volatile oil 6.1 mg·kg^-1 and volatile oil 1.6 mg·kg^-1. CONCLUSION Saponin of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. has a certain therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, its mechanism of action related to anti-inflammation, resisting oxidative stress.