As a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke, neuroprotective agents are used to antagonize a series of harmful molecular biological events in cerebral ischemia. This article reviewes the current status of neuroprotective agents in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and the challenges from pre-clinical evidences translating into the clinical trials. The vascular endothelial cells, glial cells and neurons should be studied as a whole.
Key words:
Stroke; Brain ischemia; Neuroprotective agents