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Background and purposeWith high incidence and disability rates, ischemic cerebrovascular disease is a great threat to human health. To seek effective drugs for cerebral infarction and lower the mortality and disability rates of cerebrovascular disease has become a topic of intensive interest. It has been found that angiogenesis may facilitate the recovery of neurologic impairment, and that it is closely associated with the prognosis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Therapeutic angiogenesis, namely, the formation of new capillaries on the basis of original microvessels in ischemic tissue through the action of drugs, genes, stem cells or other means and the integration of new capillaries with the original vascular net to improve circulation, provides a promising, new method for the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. VEGF is a putative, essential growth factor involved in angiogenesis. Many scientists are attempting to find drugs or methods to enhance the synthesis and secretion of endogenous VEGF, so as to treat ischemic cerebrovascular disease.Ecdysterone (EDS) is a natural steroid with molting activity in insects. An array of studies has demonstrated that EDS has antioxidative activity, and can promote endothelial cell proliferation and protect endothelial cells against various damaging factors, thus effectively suppressing hypoxia-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells. Moreover, it has many other pharmacologic effects, such as enhancing VEGF expression in heart muscle cells and venous endothelial cells and protecting the nervous system. In light of the potential use of EDS in the circulatory system and the central nervous system, we postulate that EDS may have potential therapeutic value for ischemic brain injury; nevertheless, studies in this regard have not been reported yet.EDS is ubiquitous in the animal and plant kingdoms. EDS was first produced in large, industrial scale in China. Compared to recombinant VEGF protein or gene therapy, EDS can be easily obtained, and the cost is low. To study its medical value may help find a
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