Abstract:\[Abstract\]ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Leaf ethanol extract(VEE)and its different extracts on the anti-oxidative capability of brain stem in sleep-deprived rats. MethodsRats were intragastrically administered with low, middle, and high dose of VEE (1.2 g/ml, 2.4 g/ml, and 7.2 g/ml)and different extracts daily for 10 days. The rat mental fatigue models were established by sleep deprivation through flower-pot on the 7th day. Rats treated with salidroside (200 mg/ml)were taken as positive controls. After 72 h sleep deprivation, the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidative capacity(T-AOC) in the brain stem were determined in each group. ResultsThe concentrations of the MDA, SOD, and T-AOC in the normal control group were (16.4±0.42) nmol/mg protein, (2.9±0.62) U/mg protein, and (154.3±14.47) U/ml, respectively. Compared with the normal control group, the sleep-deprived group had significantly higher concentrations of MDA, SOD and T-AOC(P<0.05), and the groups of salidroside, high dose ethanol, and aqua extract of VEE had significantly lower MDA (P<0.05), and lower SOD and T-AOC.Conclusion The high dose VEE can greatly decrease the oxidative stress level of the brain stem, and it also has remarkable anti-oxidative ability, with the active part mainly in the aqua extract of VEE.