Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of pueraria for acute cerebral infarction. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, and the Chinese Stroke Clinical Trials Database. The search was conducted in Feb., 2006. Data were extracted and assessed by two reviewers independently. Revman 4.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Nineteen potentially eligible trials were identified, of which 14 (1 141 patients) were included. Only one trial reported the death or disability rate at the end of 6-month follow-up (the difference between the two groups was not significant). Meta-analysis of 11 trials invovling the improvement of neurological deficit indicated that pueraria was significantly more effective than the control group [OR 3.04, 95%CI 2.11, 4.39]. Conclusions Pueraria might improve the short-term neurological deficit of patients with acute cerebral infarction. But the methodological quality of all the included trials is poor, reliable conclusions can not be drawn from the present data. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are required.