Abstract: AIM　To explore if the inhibitory effect of 3-n-butylphthalide(NBP) on apoptosis induced by transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats is relevant to cortical calcineurin and calpain activities. METHODS　The model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was used. The activities of the two enzymes were measured by using biochemical methods. RESULTS　DL-NBP and D-NBP 20 mg.kg^-1 were found to significantly reduce ischemia ipsilateral cortical calcineurin and calpain activities. However, L-NBP 20 mg.kg^-1 showed no obvious effect. CONCLUSION　The anti-apoptotic effect of NBP may be relevant to its inhibition of calcineurin and calpain activities in focal cerebral ischemia rats.