SMAD3 and brain ischemia: As shown in Figure 4(d), the mRNA value of smad4 which was active downstream effectors of Smad3 showed a similar change in its mRNA expression after cerebral ischemia (p < 0.05); although there are no significant changes between the drug treatment and model groups, the mRNA value was showing a decreased trend compared with the model group, after the treatment with DHI and BNC [31].