MMP9 and ischemia: In the present study, we demonstrated that NBP (1) attenuated ischemia-induced brain edema and neuronal death; (2) improved neurological function recovery; (3) inhibited AQP4 expression in the ischemic brain and reduced tight junction protein loss; (4) and partially inhibited MMP-9 expression and activity (5) through the possible MAPK signaling pathway associated in BBB disruption (Figure 8).