Traditional Chinese medicine, Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction, potentiates tissue plasminogen activator against thromboembolic stroke in rats

Hypothetical scheme of thromboembolic stroke-induced focal cerebral ischemia. Thromboembolic stroke decreases the blood flow of ischemic area followed by inducing a release of transcription factor HIF-α. HIF-1α translocates into the nucleus in activating genes of iNOS and TNF-α. iNOS may contribute to enhance the inflammatory responses by elevating nitric oxide (NO). TNF-α, it shows to be involved in apoptosis through the activation of downstream caspases-3, and subsequently induces cerebral infarction.