HMOX1 and ischemic stroke: To demonstrate whether Nrf2 pathway activation plays a crucial part in the neuroprotective effects of Ginseng pretreatment against ischemic damage, we measured expression levels of Nrf2 downstream cytoprotective and antioxidative target proteins including HO1, NQO1, SOD2 and Gpx1 at the early stage of ischemic stroke (Figures 4A–E).