In this study, we investigate the effect of xanthoceraside on Alzheimers disease (AD) model in vivo, to indicate the possible mechanism of treating AD.The results indicate that administration of xanthoceraside significantly improve learning and memory impairments induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of the aggregated Aβ.Xanthoceraside could improve degeneration of apoptotic nuclei through the transmission electronmicroscope photograph;and decreased the number of apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay.Xanthoceraside inhibit the protein expression of caspase3, P53;regulate the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 both in the protein level and in the mRNA level;inhibit the activation of NFκB and JNK pathway and promote the expression of ERK.Thus, xanthoceraside has the effect of improving learning and memory impairment in mice induced by Aβ via MAPK and NF-κB pathways.The neuroprotective effects of xanthoceraside may include the inhibition of apoptosis.Therefore, xanthoceraside may provide a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.