The acute effects of DX-9386, a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation (ginseng, polygala, acorus and hoelen), were studied on learning and memory performances in passive and active avoidance tests in normal, as well as in learning-impaired, mice. A single oral administration of the prescription had no effect on memory registration, consolidation or retrieval or on motor activity in normal mice. DX-9386 reduced the ethanol-induced impairment of memory registration in the step-down test and also tended to ameliorate the scopolamine-induced memory registration deficit in the same test. The preparation reduced the number of spontaneous responses in the active avoidance test. The preparation also prolonged the disappearance of righting reflex induced by pentobarbital. These results suggest that DX-9386 ameliorates the impairment effect of ethanol on learning and memory processes and also exhibits a sedative effect.