Table 1 List of traditional drugs for IS

Thrombolytic agents

Tissue plasminogen

activator (t-PA)

Employed to dissolve coronary and cerebral vascular thrombus. Binds to the clot surface and activates plasminogen bound to fibrin.

Tenecteplase (TNK-t-PA)

Derived from t-PA after mutations at the three regions T103, N117 and KHRR296–299.

Lanoteplase

Derived from t-PA after deletion of fibronectin finger-like and epidermal growth factor domains.

Desmoteplase

Derived from the saliva of vampire bats and structurally similar to alteplase.

Antiplatelet agents

Aspirin

COX-1 inhibitor

Clopidogrel and Ticagrelor

Selective and irreversible inhibition of binding of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to platelet receptors (P2Y12).

Tirofiban, Eptifibatide and Abciximab

Platelet glycoprotein IIb / IIIa receptor antagonist.

Treprostinil and Iloprost

Prostacyclin inhibitor.

Neuroprotective agents

Memantine

Inhibit excessive glutamate and reduce cerebral infarction, without affecting the physiological activation of NMDA receptor.

ZL006

Block the ischemia induced nNOS-PSD-95 association selectively.

Apocynin

An antioxidant and inhibitor of NOX2 and NADPH by reducing the production of ROS.

NXY-059

A scavenger of free radicals, but with low permeability to BBB.

Edaravone

A free radical scavenger and inhibits lipid peroxidation-mediated neuronal damage.

Ethylenedimainetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

Chelate calcium from atherosclerotic plaques and serve as antioxidants.

Nimodipine, Nifedipine and Amlodipine

Inhibit atherosclerotic plaque deposits and exhibit anti-hypertensive action as well as neuroprotective agents.

Erythropoietin

Inhibit apoptosis and the inflammatory cascades.

Diazepam and Chlormethiazole

GABA receptor agonists and attenuate stroke-associated neuroinflammation.