Objective:To study the effect of total saponins on cerebral blood flow and vascular resistance in anesthetized dogs.Methods: Thirty hybrid dogs in either sex,with a body weight of (11±1.5) kg,were evenly randomized into 5 groups:negative control group(saline 5 ml/kg,ig),positive control (nimodipine 300 μg/kg,iv),and 3 groups treated with total saponins (low-dose group \[10 mg/kg,ig\],middle-dose group\[30 mg/kg,ig\],and high-dose group\[60 mg/kg,ig\]).The dogs were anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg).The right common carotid artery was exposed to measure the cerebral blood flow,cerebral vascular resistance,blood pressure and heart rate using the MFV-3200 electromagnetic flow meter and MPA-3000 bioelectricity signal-amplifier.Results: Compared with negative control, cerebral blood flow was significantly increased in animals treated with asparagus root saponins（30 and 60 mg/kg,ig）during 5 and 120 min after drug administration (P<0.01). No significant effect on cerebral blood flow and vascular resistance was found in animals treated with asparagus root saponins（10 mg/kg）. Conclusion: Asparagus root saponins can increase cerebral blood flow in anesthetized dogs. \[KEY WORDS\]total saponins from Asparagus cochinchinensis; anesthesia; cerebral blood flow; vascular resistance; blood pressure; heart rate