Objectives : We investigated the effect of Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) on short-term memory and apoptosis in dentate gyrus of the gerbils with transient global ischemia. Methods : For the induction of cerebral ischemia model in mice, common carotid arteries of gerbils were occluded with aneurysm clips for 5 min. One day after operation, Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) was administrated orally injected once a day for 15 consecutive days. Gerbils were randomly divided into four group(n=10 in each group): sham-operation group, ischemia-induction group, ischemia-induction and 50 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group, ischemia-induction and 100 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group, and ischemia-induction and 200 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group. The effect of Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) on memory function was investigated by using step-down avoidance task. Apoptosis was confirmed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) staining and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. Western blot analysis for the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 protein was also conducted. Results : 1. Haein-tang extract significantly enhanced short-term memory in step-down avoidance task and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. 2. Haein-tang extract significantly suppressed TUNEL-positive cells after transient global ischemia and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. 3. Haein-tang extract significantly increased caspase-3 positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after transient global ischemia and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. 4. Haein-tang extract significantly decreased Bax protein expressions in the hippocampus after transient global ischemia and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, Haein-tang-treated group. Haein-tang extract significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expressions in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after transient global ischemia and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, Haein-tang-treated group. Haein-tang extract significantly decreased Ratio of Bax protein to Bcl-2 protein in the hippocampus after transient global ischemia and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. Conclusions : While Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) treatment improved short-term memory by suppressing on ischemia-induction apoptosis. In the present study, Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) shows protective effect on transient global ischemia.