This Study was designed to investigate the effects of Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus (NRN) on the change of cerebral hemodynamics [regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), pial arterial diameter (PAD) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP)] in normal and cerebral ischemic rats. And, this study was designed to investigate the inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase activity in neuronal cells The results were as follows NRN significantly increased rCBF and PAD in a dose-dependent manner, and NRN increased MABP in a dose-dependent manner. This results suggested that NRN significantly increased rCBF by dilating PAD. Both rCBF and PAD were significantly and stably increased by NRN (10 mg/kg, i.p.) during the period of cerebral reperfusion, which contrasted with the findings of rapid and marked increase in control group. NRN significantly inhibited lactate dehydrogenase activity in neuronal cells. This results suggested that NRN prevented the neuronal death. It is suggested that NRN had an anti-ischemic effect through the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and inhibitive effect on the brain damage.