Flavonoids from Polypodium hastatum as neuroprotective agents attenuate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in vitro and in vivo via activating Nrf2

Objectives Cerebral ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. Though timely reperfusion reduces the infarction size, it exacerbates neuronal apoptosis due to oxidative stress. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor regulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Activating Nrf2 gives a therapeutic approach to ischemic stroke.