BACKGROUND: Glossy privet fruit inhibits neural cell apoptosis following the onset of vascular dementia. OBJECTIVE: To confirm glossy privet fruit effects on neural cell apoptosis in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region of rat models of vascular dementia using molecular biology techniques. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The neural cell morphology experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Flow Cells and Biochemistry, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Basic Room of Pathology, Academy of Chinese Medicine from December 2006 to May 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 60 Wistar rats were used to establish vascular dementia models using a photochemical reaction method. Glossy privet fruit was purchased from Fujian, China. Hydergine was co-produced by Sandoz, Switzerland and Huajin, China. METHODS: The 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal sized groups (n = 10), I.e. Model, blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups. Rats in the model group were treated with distilled water (1 mL/100 g) by gavage following model establishment. Rats in the blank group underwent experimental procedures as for the model group, except that rat models were created without illumination. Rats in the high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine groups, and the hydergine control group respectively received high, moderate and low doses of glossy privet fruit, and hydergine suspension (1 mL/100 g) by gavage, once a day, for 30 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphology of neural cells from the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region of all groups was observed with an electron microscope. Positive neural cells in the injury site of the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region were investigated using the Fas immunohistochemical method. Absorbance of Fas-positive neurons was detected by the MPIAS-500 multimedia color imaging analysis system. RESULTS: Neural cells were normal, and nuclei were regular in the right cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region in the blank group. Karyopyknosis, an integral nuclear membrane, vacuole and apoptotic bodies were presented in the model group. The quantity and morphology of neural cells were normal in all doses of Chinese medicine groups, and the hydergine control group. Compared with the model group, absorbance was reduced at the injury site of rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region in the blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups (P < 0.05). The decrease was particularly significant in the blank group (P < 0.01), followed by the high dose of Chinese medicine group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the percentage of apoptosis was decreased at the injury site of the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region in the blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups (P < 0.01) and this decrease was significant in the high dose of Chinese medicine group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Glossy privet fruit, a kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal medicine, can inhibit cell apoptosis by reducing apoptotic signals induced by cerebral ischemia/hypoxia.