Pathway enrichment demonstrated that SHD may protect against ischaemic stroke via the PI3K-Akt pathway, TNF pathway, HIF-1 pathway, etc. Western blot assays confirmed that the neuroprotective effect of SHD against ischaemic injury may be mediated via regulation of PI3K, Akt, CREB1, TNF-α and IL-6. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and ischemic stroke.