Objective To investigate the effects of Shenwu capsule (SW), a new combination drug of traditional Chinese medicine, and its component tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG) on the expression of never growth factor (NGF) and its receptor in the hippocampus of aged rats. Methods The aged rats were intragastrically administrated by SW (0.8g?kg-1 and 1.6g?kg-1) and TSG (0.03g?kg-1 and 0.06g?kg-1) for 3 months (from 21 to 24 months of age), respectively. Real-time PCR was applied to measure NGF mRNA and TrkA mRNA in the hippocampus. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot methods were used for detecting the expression of NGF and TrkA in the hippocampus. Results From the levels of gene and protein, the mRNA and protein expression of NGF and TrkA showed a decrease in the hippocampus of aged rats. Intragastrical administration of SW to the aged rats up-regulated the expression of NGF mRNA and TrkA mRNA in the hippocampus; SW and TSG enhanced the expression of NGF, and the high dose of SW and TSG elevated the expression of TrkA. Conclusion SW and TSG increased the expression of NGF and its receptor in the hippocampus of aged rats, suggesting that the drugs may act on the beginning of neuronal signal transduction pathway, and may be beneficial to neuronal survival and function.