Neuroprotectants in stroke therapy.
BACKGROUND
Over the past 10 years clinical trials aimed at finding suitable neuroprotectants against the debilitating effects of stroke have met with no success. Identifying novel neuroprotectants that can reverse the effects of stroke is becoming a challenge to both clinicians and scientists.


OBJECTIVE
This review focused on the current status on the topic and highlights some of the neuroprotectants that are worth examining or re-examining further.


METHODS
Recent findings on the subject have been included.


CONCLUSIONS
Many neuroprotectants that have worked in preclinical evaluations have been found to be ineffective in clinical trials. Nevertheless, some of them are still considered to be worth re-examining. Non-coding small RNAs (riboregulators) as novel therapeutic leads have also been introduced in this review.
Jeyaseelan
K
K
Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore. bchjeya@nus.edu.sg
Lim
K Y
KY
Armugam
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D000975:Antioxidants; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018755:GABA Agonists; D007473:Ion Channels; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents