STAT1 and brain ischemia: Silymarin, a flavonoid derivative, has been shown to protect against cerebral ischemia by inhibiting NF-κB and STAT-1 (signal transducer and activating transcription-1) activation in cerebral ischemic/reperfusion-induced rats, in a dose-dependent manner (1–10 μg/kg, i.v.)(58, 72).