HMOX1 and stroke disorder: The aim of this study was to determine whether AGNHW pre-treatment can curb stroke-associated pathological changes and neuronal death in a MCAO rat model by using phenotypic strategies (i.e. including the neurological functional score, cerebral infarct area, neuron apoptosis, brain oxidative stress status) and target-based (i.e. involving the GSK-3β/HO-1 pathway) strategies.