OBJECTIVE NKN reduces brain edema, neuronal death and neurological deficits in rats after cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we investigated whether NKN was effective on brain injury in cerebral ischemia rats. METHODS The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used to produce experimental cerebral ischemia in adult male Wistar rats. The activity of SOD and concentration of MDA were determined. We also examined the efficacy of NKN on neurological deficit scores, expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and endothelin-1 mRNA in brain of focal cerebral ischemia rats. RESULTS The results show that NKN significantly increased the activity of SOD, decreased the concentration of MDA, decreased neurological deficit scores, inhibited the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and endothelin-1 mRNA in brain of focal cerebral ischemia rats. CONCLUSIONS The results implied NKN could protect brain against injury caused by cerebral ischemia.