In the present study, the Trx-1 and Trx-2 expression levels in the tanshinone IIA subgroups (6 and 24 h cerebral ischemia-reperfusion) were significantly increased compared with those in the respective control subgroups (P<0.05), indicating that tanshinone IIA increased the protein expression levels of Trx-1 and Trx-2. This evidence concerns the gene TXN and brain ischemia.