A significant beneficial effect of Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is observed in the Salvianolic acid A treatment groups. Salvianolic acid A (20 mg/kg) could significantly prolonged the retention time of rats on the plate. While compared with sham operation group, the brain water content in model group significantly increases, which is attenuated significantly by Salvianolic acid A (10 and 20 mg/kg). Compared with the model group, Salvianolic acid A (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) could maintain the normal structures of neurons and increase neurons number. It is also found that Salvianolic acid A (20 mg/kg) could significantly reduce I/R induced MMP-9 upregulation. While the MMP-2 expression is not significantly affected by Salvianolic acid A. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) could inhibit the activity of MMPs through high affinity binding to MMPs catalytic domain.