Protection by silibinin against experimental ischemic stroke: Up-regulated pAkt, pmTOR, HIF-1α and Bcl-2, down-regulated Bax, NF-κB expression

► Rat pMCAO model is used to analyze the neuroprotective effect of silibinin. ► Silibinin decreases neurological deficit, brain edema and infarct size. ► Silibinin up-regulates the expression of pAkt, pmTOR, HIF-1α and Bcl-2. ► Silibinin down-regulates the expression of Bax and NF-κB.